Memphis Unlimited

Heralded by many as possibly one of the best soul albums ever—and created by one of its best voices—1973’s Memphis Unlimited really does its title justice. Made by the same team responsible for Al Green’s million-sellers, the album is rich with Willie Mitchell’s clear, groove-heavy production. It focused on tight bass and drums (courtesy of the Hi rhythm section) and a blipping, howling horn section (courtesy of the great Memphis Horns). Wright—whose R&B hits began in 1965 and was often referred to as “the boss of Southern soul”—gyrates with ease between measured ballads (“Please Forgive Me”), boss singles (“I’d Rather Be Blind, Crippled and Crazy”), and midtempo crushers where he might as well be heading up a sweat-drenched tent revival (“You Must Believe in Yourself,” “I’ve Been Searching”). Then “I’m Coming Home (To Live with God)” takes traditional gospel to sexy heights, while the slow, heady “Ghetto Child” (written by Johnny Copeland) is as profound and topically rich as anything Curtis Mayfield ever did.