Artist:     Wee Willie Walker and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra

Album:     Not In My Lifetime

Label:     Blue Dot

Release Date:     7.16.2021

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One small byproduct of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a slight resurgence in soul music, with albums from Sonny Green, Gerald McClendon and Robert Finley, to name just a few. Maybe it’s because we so desperately need those soothing sounds to take just a bit of the edge off this trying period. In the case of Wee Willie Walker, we unfortunately are listening to a posthumous album, the great singer passing just three days after recording the eerily-named but richly animated Not in My Lifetime with a large aggregate, The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra led by guitarist Paule. All but three of the 14 tunes were written by Paule’s partner in life and co-producer, Christine Vitale, along with Paule and background vocalist Larry Batiste, both of whom also co-produced.

Walker impressed with his 2017 After A While, rendered by the same cast. Paule’s orchestra boasts eight pieces, including a four-piece horn section and three background vocalists. Guests Jon Otis (percussion) and Curt Ingram (French horn on “Over and Over”) and perhaps as a nod to Walker’s stint on Little Village, The Sons of the Soul Revivers appear on “I’m Just Like You.”

Walker was born in 1941 in Mississippi and raised in Memphis where he soaked up the blues and soul vibe before moving to Minneapolis in 1959. Sadly, Walker did not receive the recognition he deserved until his later years. There were no wins, but five nominations meant that Wee Willie Walker had finally achieved some recognition. Walker’s resurgence began about seven years ago when blues harmonicist Rick Estrin caught a Walker show in Minneapolis. That connection led to Walker’s Estrin-produced album, If Nothing Ever Changes (Little Village), in 2015 and 2017’s After A While. Walker was also named most outstanding males blues singer at the 25th annual Living Blues Awards. In 2018, Wee Willie Walker and this band were nominated for Album of the Year (After a While), Song of the Year (“Hate Take a Holiday”), and Soul Blues Album (After a While), with Walker himself nominated as Soul Blues Male Artist and Instrumentalist Vocal at the 39th Blues Music Awards.

Not In My Lifetime stands as testament to all those richly-deserved accolades. Walker is one of the best soul singers we’ve heard. A simple statement perhaps but consider the company: Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, and Percy Sledge, to name a few. Yes, Walker is in the same conversation. It’s on the slow soul tunes where he really shines such as “Darling Mine,” “Make Your Own Good News,” and “Let the Lady Dance.” “I’m Just Like You” with the Soul Revivers reveals his gospel touch. These songs were expressly written for Walker, and he immerses himself, singing each lyric with. Even the covers are delivered impactfully, especially his remake of “Warm to Cool to Cold” which appeared on one of his earlier recordings. Listening to the closing autobiographical “’Til You’ve Walked In My Shoes” sends a chill, knowing that this is the last recording we’ll hear from this genuine soul giant.

If you missed his previous effort, grab it and certainly this one too.  This is the apex of soul music!

—Jim Hynes