Revisiting A&M Records No. 43
Richard Barbary: ‘Soul Machine’ (Summer ’68)
From liner notes penned by Ted Williams (of Record World, not baseball lore): ‘Have you ever had the pleasure of feeling you’ve “discovered” someone? I have, and it’s a together feeling.’
I don’t know what that last part means, but I’ve definitely enjoyed secretive discoveries over artists and albums. For weeks now I’ve been basking in such joy about this buried gem, because even though it’s a year older than my 56 trips ‘round the sun, it not only sounds as neo-trad fresh as Nathaniel Rateliff’s catalog, its star is so unknown — and seemingly unknowable — that his music hits like he’s brand new.
Maybe I’m searching in the wrong places, but there is nary a thing to learn about Richard Barbary from the usual sources. He has no Wikipedia entry nor AllMusic bio; the latter lists ‘Soul Machine’ as his entire discography, but there’s no review, only a lone five-star user ranking. (It isn’t mine; I’d give it 4.5.)
The exhaustive site On A&M Records, as close to a data bible as I’ve found thus far, has the scantest of info as well, noting only that he was signed to the label in July ’68. Hard to take that as truth when sessions for this LP were finished in mid-June, under the direction of Artie Butler (more about him in No. 37 of this series). Counting A&M/CTI catalog numbers while comparing accurately established release dates also pegs this title to a mid/late summer debut. Possibly On A&M Records meant to say it came out in July?
Regardless its birthdate and backstory, it’s a must-listen for any fan of vintage soul, of late-‘60s Marvin Gaye, of Solomon Burke at his prettiest, of the late great Jerry Butler (who died Feb. 20 at 85), of less-recalled masters like William Bell and Chuck Jackson.
Barbary’s ‘Nature Boy’ is unlike most you’ve heard, I’d pit his ‘Poor Side of Town’ against anyone’s, and I will never understand how the breezy ‘Call on Me’ wasn’t at least a minor Top 40 hit.
You can hear ‘Soul Machine’ in full on YouTube.
Bet you’ll want to track down a vinyl copy once you do.