With the passing of producer Willie Mitchell, this meeting of titans became an even more momentous affair. The Memphis studio maven behind the standout sound of '70s superstar Al Green couldn't have paired with a more ideal artist for the closing of his book. Burke, the true godfather of soul, takes to Mitchell's production like a fish in the most comfortable of waters, and song by song makes a convincing case that age truly ain't nothin' but a number. The 70-year-old King Solomon digs in and works out strong and steady through a solid old-school set in the soul idiom he helped create. The first few lines of the leadoff track, "Oh What a Feeling" confirm that the man has barely lost a step from his early '60s chart-topping days. His reading of the extended ballad "Dreams" alone is worth the price of admission. Classic Mitchell horn and string touches adorn each track. Production on the title song in particular evokes the best of a golden era. — Duane Verh
