Mike James Kirkland - Doin' It Right (1971) [Reissue 1999]

Luv N' Haight, the rare groove branch of San Francisco's Ubiquity label, followed-up the reissue of Mike James Kirkland's Hang On in There with Doin' It Right, another soul/funk treasure previously on the verge of slipping into musical darkness. According to Ubiquity, before their re-release, collectors looking for these albums could encounter price tags as high as 500 dollars. While the unconverted may wonder what the fuss is all about, the strongest material on these sets reveals an artist more than capable of matching the work of his contemporaries. Unfortunately, MCA, Kirkland's record label at the time, failed to get behind the releases and they faded from view. While the singer divided the A- and B-sides of Hang On in There between sobering reality themes and a batch of love songs, Doin' It Right focuses exclusively on the pained trials and tribulations of the heart. Once again, Kirkland's voice is set against a series of sophisticated arrangements that, at their best, avoid dipping into overly sentimental schmaltz. There are a few exceptions. The title track, an unfocused "I want you back" plea that unfolds over eight-plus minutes, begins as an unconvincing, soap-opera style drama. On a version of "O Me, O My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)," Kirkland drifts over a bed of guitar and strings for a series of verses that attempt too forcefully to tug at the heartstrings. More impressive is the singer's take on Carole King's "It's Too Late," a song whose sentiments translate easily into a soul setting. Also of note are the Kirkland originals that open and close the set: Songs like "Got To Do It Right," "Love Insurance," and "The Only Change" find the session players falling back on more reliable funk elements for more impressive results. ~ Nathan Bush, All Music Guide