Mickey Murray - Shout Bamalama (2008)

Mickey Murray's rendition of Otis Redding's "Shout Bamalama" was a career hit for the Southern singer. He was obviously imitating Redding, because nothing else on this 18-track CD sounds like it, and he sings in a lower, less hectic voice on the others -- except for "Flat Foot Sam" and "Sticky Sue," which are as boisterous and backwoods as "Shout Bamalama." The ballads -- "Lonely Room," "Pledging My Love" (a sweet remake of Johnny Ace's classic), and "Am I That Easy to Forget" (slow Southern blues) -- are well-done and memorable. On "Hit Record" and "Mama Got the Wagon" you'll swear you're listening to James Brown. Two tracks, "After What I've Been Used To" and "The Pig and the Pussy Cat," harken back to memories of Stax Records and their patented horns. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Allmusic