With every last beautiful ounce of your understated womanly allure, even in the depths of domestic scorn towards your man, hair gone every which direction, fire in the eyes, could you ladies, really think about this...Could you really be angry at a humble yet smitten (not to mention dapper) Benny Latimore and his slick-ass Fender Rhodes?
Well I should hope not because the dude is soul incarnate, and he's trying his damnedest to sing his way back to the bedroom with this stellar 45rpm single. Unlike most of his contemporary soul singers from the mid-70's, Latimore hits every cliche of the sex-funk genre without getting too mushy (Barry White), too goofy (Ohio Players), or too sleazy (Barry White again). "Let's Straighten It Out" came out in 1974, proving to be the biggest hit Big L would have during his professional career, although he still continues to record respectable r&b to this day. The Glades label was arguably the most influential funk/soul label south of Stax Records in the 1970's, launching many groups & singers from the expansive Miami scene. You could say that Latimore was like the Isaac Hayes of this crowd.
Rhodes electric piano is the main instrument on display here with some Arp String synth in the background of the B-side "Ain't Nobody Gonna Change My Mind". The backing group sounds really simple, maybe just a rhythm section of drums and electric bass. I really love Latimore's simple phrasing and vocal delivery; never seems melodramatic or all over the scale (a weird tendency for a lot of soul singers when they begin improvising). Not as unique as an Al Green but beautiful none the less.
Found abused & discarded at the bottom of a magic grocery bag full of beat up soul 45's...
7 out of 10 on the "Please forgive me baby!" scale...
check out the Funk My Soul blog for some more Latimore goodies...
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