Jerry Butler - The Spice Of Life (1972) [24bit FLAC]

AllMusic Review by Jason Elias
Spice of Life is a double album during an era when they were rare, especially for solo R&B acts. The first track, "What's So Good About It (You're My Baby)," is a middling ballad that oddly mixes the thoughts of a recent Vietnam veteran with a declaration of love. The Flamingos classic "I Only Have Eyes for You" is taken at a faster pace but strays too far from the song's singular melody. The effort's best original ballad, the mandolin-filled "That's the Way It Was (That's the Way It Is)," has Butler turning in an emotional performance. Carole King's "So Far Away," with its adventurous arrangement, is nearly as good with Butler's ad-libs and tone, bringing poignancy to the track. By the middle of Spice of Life, it is clear the ideas are either poorly conceived or too lengthy. The Philly-styled "I Need You" has great backing but a barely-there premise. Frequent duet partner Brenda Lee Eager shows up for "You Can't Always Tell" and a cover of "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Despite the rambling, Butler brings Spice of Life to a close with a warm take on Burt Bacharach and Hal David's unsung gem "All Kinds of People." Despite Butler's best intentions, this would have worked better as a single album.