David "Fathead" Newman - House Of David (1967) [vinyl>flac]

I was fortunate enough to borrow this great LP and grab a rip whilst I listened. Ever since, being turn onto some of Newman’s Muse albums, I have been searching out some of his lesser known earlier LPs and this definitely is a fantastic place to start. David’s luscious tenor sound does not disappoint and with the likes of Ted Dunbar on guitar, Kossie Gardner on organ and Milt Turner on drums supporting him the album boils-over reaching some wonderful soulful heights. The listener gets to hear three Newman compositions as well as a vibrant selection of contemporary jazz and pop tunes. On Miss Minnie he swaps solely to flute. As a supposed comeback album he certainly has nothing to prove other than he is on par with some of the best tenor players that emerged throughout sixties and beyond.  

The House of David was David "Fathead" Newman's comeback album of sorts, marking his first release after the end of his association with Ray Charles and a few years spent with his family in his hometown of Dallas. Organist Kossie Gardner, guitarist Ted Dunbar, and drummer Milt Turner support Newman's gritty "Texas tenor" sound, which captures the straightforwardness of R&B pop and the improvisational elements of jazz. Newman plays the flute on the spunky "Miss Minnie," but one of the most interesting songs on the album is the untypical rendition of a Bob Dylan tune, "Just Like A Woman." the artist's warm tenor lifts this song to angelic heights, and it's fathomed that he had only heard the song a few times before laying down this recording. Other standouts on the album include the Cedar Walton penned closer, "The Holy Land," and the original blues numbers such as the title track and "New Blues." This album boils with inventive hooks and the soulful combination of organ and guitar that would become more pop-oriented on subsequent Newman recordings. ~ by Jeff Schwachter.

Atlantic Records, SD 1489, 1967

Recorded 4th-7th March, 1967

Track Listing:

A1. I Wish You Love (Albert Beach, Charles Trénet} (6:08)

A2. One Room Paradise {J. Leslie McFarland} (1:35)

A3. Little Sister {David Newman} (8:15)

A4. Miss Minnie {Claude Johnson} (2:28)

B1. Just Like A Woman {Bob Dylan} (4:31)

B2. House of David {David Newman} (3:47)

B3. Blue New {David Newman} (3:56)

B4. The Holy Land {Cedar Walton} (7:22)

Personnel:

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Sax, Flute (A4)

Kossie Gardner - Organ

Ted Dunbar - Guitar

Milt Turner - Drums