Album review: BEN E. KING – Supernatural Soul

Goldenlane Records/Cleopatra [Release date 26.08.22 ]

On this, his first album release for a decade or so, one-time Drifters frontman Ben E. King is joined by special guests including Bette Smith and Ronnie Earl on a re-make of ‘Stand By Me’. (The original version is also included).

The small print reveals that the vocal tracks were actually recorded in 1996 and so this is effectively a compilation with several new backing tracks. King died in 2015.

We get the major solo “hits” including ‘Spanish Harlem’ with flamenco guitarist Rafael Riqueni. And songs like ‘Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)’ and ‘Seven Letters’ rehash his early career. ‘Amor’ was originally included on a 2005 album and so forth. And, there is the almost inevitable Drifters medley.

It’s only when Bootsy Collins comes on the scene for the outstanding ‘Supernatural Thing’ (offered in both vocal and instrumental versions) that things start to really get cooking.

The track, originally a Billboard R&B chart topper, has a groove that reminds me of a rather slowed down ‘Lady Marmalade’ but it is in a style that suits King and was originally released in the heyday of so-called Blaxploitation movies.

I’m not quite sure what the point of this album is but it underlines the cool direction of travel in the mid-seventies that was sustained for several releases, at least until he left the Atlantic label in 1981. In this context King’s collaboration with Average White Band (1977) is worth investigating. ***

Review by David Randall

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