Let me begin by admitting that I am not a big soul music fan. Generally, I am happier with Szell conducting Mozart or Dave Goulder singing about following along as his dad plowed the fields. BUT about 30 years ago I found the Verve Howard Tate LP with the best of this CD's material on it and it just blew me away! The songs are incredible. Hey, look who has covered them! The arrangements are basic, but perfect. And that voice! Man, Howard Tate is right along side Otis, Aretha, Ray Charles and Bobby Bland! It's no so much that they sing well, though they do of course! They convince you! You BELIEVE them the same way you believe Townes Van Zandt or Hank Williams! Listen to "Glad I Knew Better". This is testimony! This song by this man has my vote as one of the best pop songs of all time and the best soul song full stop.