River High, River Low

Les McCann’s first self-produced album for Atlantic marks his complete transition into a mainstream pop/R&B singer. River High, River Low is comprised almost entirely of compact pop performances. It is amiable and measured, the completely opposite of sprawling McCann opuses like Layers and Invitation to Openness. McCann’s model here is obviously Stevie Wonder, and he borrows the sweet, smooth approach of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” for “Loved You Full In Every Way,” “I’ve Been Thinking About My Problems” and “Baby Just So Much Faith.” His plaintive vocals contain an innate empathy that is almost by definition absent from typical “star” performances. At the same time, McCann is unabashedly honest in his lyrics; what other black male performer would dare take on a song called “I’m a Liberated Woman?" McCann was simultaneously too much of an anomaly and too much of an everyman to make it big, but this simple, no-frills albums fits his personality. Even as he tinkers on electric keyboard, there is a singular purity and emotionality to the title song, a solo piano performance.