Review: Johnny Rawls 'Make Them Dance'

Review: Johnny Rawls ‘Make Them Dance’

By Jim Hynes

‘Make Them Dance’ is an appropriate title for Johnny Rawls’ new album. In fact, no artist has the ability to instantly draw people to the dance floor like he can. Within minutes of hitting the stage, Rawls induces an immediate reaction. One of the last of the original deep soul singers, Rawls is back with his second album on Catfood Records in his second tenure after a six-year absence.

From 2008 through 2017 Rawls issued a strong string of eight albums on the label. Three of them made Downbeat magazine’s Critics Choice Best of the Year List. He has garnered multiple BMA nominations and wins. Now, just as he did on 2023’s Walking Heart Attack, Rawls taps into that winning formula – writing songs with label head Bob Trenchard, laying down the tracks at Trenchard’s favorite studio, the Sonic Ranch, near El Paso, TX. Grammy-winning Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana) mixed at his studio near Memphis, TN. Sadly, this is the last recording by the highly acclaimed Gaines, who passed away last year. These ten tracks include originals from Rawls, Trenchard, co-writes between the two, one by Gaines’ widow, Sandy Carroll, and one by Trenchard and Zac Harmon. Interestingly, in a departure from tradition, there is not a song from soul legend O.V. Wright, for whom Rawls was the bandleader and guitarist. Previous albums had at least one Wright track.

The Catfood label suits Rawls so well, with the great writing of Trenchard and Trenchard’s ability to recruit a top-notch band that knows how to frame vocals perfectly. These are musicians tapped mostly from Memphis or Muscle Shoals as well as the horns and keys formerly from The Rays. They are Will McFarlane (guitar), Bob Trenchard (bass), Steve Potts (drums), Dan Ferguson (keyboards), Andy Roman (tenor saxophone and solos), Mike Middleton (trumpet), Nick Flood (alto, baritone, tenor saxophones), Frank Otero (trombone), with guest slots from Clayton Ivey (keys, track 4), Jamie McFarlane (bass, track 4) and backing vocals by Kimberly Horton and Trinecia Butler. Rawls sings all lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar.

“So Cold,” penned by Harmon and Trenchard, opens with blaring horns before Rawls enters (“How did you get so cold? You’re colder than ice”) to a steady groove that has Roman bursting out with the first of his many crisp, gritty solos. The dance floor is open! “Dreams of You,” a Rawls and Trenchard co-write, is a mid-tempo but still eminently danceable love ballad with Rawls testifying with the background singers swelling on the chorus – “I want to go back in time, I want to go back, baby when you were mine.” Trenchard’s penned title track is the essence of Rawls, with Roman again soloing and the background singers shouting out that refrain “Make them dance all night long.” Carroll’s standout “Move in My Direction” is one of a few simmering love ballads, sumptuous late-night soul, punctuated by Ivey’s keys, McFarlane’s tasty guitar and Roman’s tenor.

The up-tempo soul returns with Rawls’ own “Costs Too Much,” rendered over whirling B3, and an irresistible groove. Most of the others are Rawls and Trenchard co-writes including the gritty, bluesy “Give It To Me,” infused with stinging guitar by McFarlane. The guitarist takes a short intro and remains prominent on “Rip Off the Bandage” where Rawls pours out his vocal about how much pain he’s suffered through a bruised relationship. Trenchard’s sultry, slow dancing “Say That You Love Me” is the kind of singalong tune that reminds us why we can’t get enough of vintage soul music. Trenchard, too, is one of the best writers of this material. “Swimming with the Sharks” pulsates with tight groove while the standout closer, “The Long Road” has one of the strongest horn charts with Rawls reminiscing on his storied career, leaving us wanting more.

Johnny Rawls and Bob Trenchard are inseparable. Let’s hope that they continue their partnership at Catfood for years to come. It brings out the best in both of them.

“Shake It Baby”