CD Description
A sort of greatest hits album, THE LEGENDARY is compiled from Rawls' work for Capitol in the '60s, '80s, and '90s, and thus ignores his pop and disco hits for Gamble and Huff in the '70s. The result is an album that focuses on Rawls as a blues ("Stormy Monday") and jazz ("God Bless the Child") singer, or even, in the case of his monologue on "Dead End Street", a precursor to Isaac Hayes, Barry White, and rappers in general.
Highlights include a stunning "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", which manages to erase memories of both the Nina Simone and Animals' versions. "You Can't Go Home No More" features very tasty guitar work by George Benson.