Wilson Pickett – It’s Too Late (Indie Exclusive, Cream Colored Vinyl, Anniversary Edition) Weekly Review
Weekly Review:
Soul singer Wilson Pickett’s debut album has been released under a variety of titles over the years. This 60 th anniversary pressing aims to simplify things by presenting the album under the original title, It’s Too Late, with the original track listing.
Pickett had scored hits with the gospel group the Violinaires and the RnB group the Falcons, when he stepped out alone. It’s Too Late opens with the smoldering ballad “If You Need Me.” Solomon Burke’s sound-alike cover was the bigger single that year, but Pickett’s version made enough of an impression to convince the Rolling Stones and Tom Jones to cut their interpretations.
You can hear the producers trying to figure out what to do with Pickett’s powerful voice on It’s Too Late. The single “I Can’t Stop” and album track “I’m Gonna Love You” have a Motown feel. The title track – another single – finds Pickett working in a similar groove as James Brown and the Famous Flames. The horn chart on “Baby Call Me” points the way to Pickett’s future success, but the song is still very much in Brown’s mode.
It’s Too Late did well enough to convince Atlantic Records to buy Pickett’s contract from the tiny Double L label. Working with a bigger budget and better producers, Pickett hit his stride on Atlantic, delivering “In the Midnight Hour,” “Land of 1,000 Dances” and “Mustang Sally” and cementing his legacy. But It’s Too Late provides an interesting glimpse at the formation of an already towering talent. -Joel Francis
Weekly Review
It’s Too Late did well enough to convince Atlantic Records to buy Pickett’s contract from the tiny Double L label. Working with a bigger budget and better producers, Pickett hit his stride on Atlantic, delivering “In the Midnight Hour,” “Land of 1,000 Dances” and “Mustang Sally” and cementing his legacy. But It’s Too Late provides an interesting glimpse at the formation of an already towering talent. -Joel Franc Wilson pickett
