Same People (That You Meet Going Up, You Meet Coming Down) in Bloomington, MN

Roy Head
was one of the best
blue-eyed soul
singers, and
Huey P. Meaux
one of the best Texas '60s
rock
producers. But though
Meaux
does produce this straightforward
album, somehow it never catches fire. It's not the fault of
Head
, who sings well, with the tinge of
country
(particularly on the
ballad
"I'm Not a Fool Anymore"
) that sometimes surfaced in other first-rate
singers like
Lonnie Mack
. The production is OK too, embellishing the standard guitar/bass/drums with organ, sax, and trumpet, as well as some female backup vocals. The shortfall lies mainly in the material, which is somewhat by-the-numbers
soul
, though with some circa 1969-1970 touches of early
funk
. In fact,
"Let a Woman Be a Woman"
is a pretty blatant
James Brown
takeoff, though it sounds as if
and his band's heart isn't fully in it. On the whole it seems like some essential ingredients were missing, in keeping with an album in which only the first names are given for all of the musicians save
. ~ Richie Unterberger