'Eyes', 20th Century Records (Import).
Being a pop music critic one has a special position. On one hand you can write whatever you want, but on the other hand you rarely receive feedback. Usually the only reactions one receives originate from the direct entourage or from colleagues. One of the reactions which I recently received was given by the reviewer of the Dutch newspaper NRC-Handelsblad; he reproached me to regularly write with sexual intentions or to give horny hints.
Whether this is true or not is not something I will discuss here, but it is a fact that when reviewing Tony Joe White's new record 'Eyes' this is unavoidable. As was the case with the majority of his previous records, Tony Joe leaves no doubt as to what the essential feature is that grabs him. He loves eroticism, sex and making love (fill in other words yourself), and makes this very noticeable. Rightfully so, is my opinion, because it makes the world turn and if it can be accompanied by good music and simple, effective lyrics to listen to, than there is nothing left to do but to buy the record irrespectively. I can imagine that several readers will find this rather overhasty, but I would like to grant them the benefit of the doubt. Since Tony Joe White, with a new record after a silence of three years, has already proven that he is a genius professional musician, and although he may sound once in a while like his filled black namesake Barry White, he does make blood stirring music once again on this record. Very subtly, but also very poignantly he knows how to express his feelings. In songs such as 'That Lovin' Feeling', 'Rainy Day Lover', 'Makin' Love Is Good For You', 'Soulful Eyes', 'You Are Loved By Me', and 'You Taught Me How To Love', the horniness is ever present. But when packaged in some good music, it seems to me that there is little left to wish for. Well, on his new record, Tony Joe White is more vital, stronger, sensual and swinging than ever before. If the expression 'soulful dance arrangements' ever meant anything than it would be at this moment, a record such as this one that White made deserves a spot next to every disk player or bedroom-turntable.
The record offers a large scale of feelings due to very different vocal and instrumental arrangements. Tony Joe uses the guitar in very many different ways; he allows the mouth organ to cry in all tunes and opens a large can filled with shivers on the part of the listener. One can listen to blues like those once made by the deceased Barry White in 'Rainy Day Lover''Lovin' Feeling' swamprock from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 'You Taught Me How To Love' (It started with a kiss/than it turned into something that just blew me away) and in 'You Are Loved By Me'.
An extremely funky percussion, fat saxophone solo's, tingly 'vibes' and almost prostituting background vocals of a female trio make the image complete. Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Oak Grove pass by and drench your musical feeling. The production of Tony Joe White touches the right tone and his roots (the musical ones equally) are uprooted as those of a forest fern on a saucer.
Blues, soul, funk and romanticism, in combination with the necessary sexual dynamics, float to the surface and pleasure can simply be skimmed off. This record deserves a place in each and every discotheque and in each household (if only as a tape), because otherwise I will have to eat my leather jacket.
9 March 1977
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