Bobby Patterson's
Soul of a Man is a gritty 20-track collection of the Texas soul singer's '70s recordings, 19 of them recorded between 1971-1973 for Paula, and one ("Right Place, Wrong Time") for All Platinum in 1977. He never had any hits, but
Patterson's low-down delivery and the backing band's tough-as-nails sound deliver an enjoyable punch. He wrote most of the tunes here, focusing mainly on extracurricular affairs and their fallout. "Right on Jody" is an answer song to
Johnnie Taylor's "Jody Got Your Girl and Gone," "One Ounce of Prevention" is a funky warning, and "Right Place, Wrong Time" is a surprisingly classic sounding track.
Patterson's style is a kind of cross between the folksy style of
Joe Tex and the smooth Southern sound of
Luther Ingram. That is a mighty fine cross to bear. Sundazed and Ace have focused on the man's earlier recordings. If you dug those, you will find this set to be essential. Otherwise, if you are a fan of early-'70s non-Philly soul, this is top-notch stuff. [This same material was released in a different package by Charly in 1999 and WestSide in 2002.]