Longtime Beverly resident Barrence Whitfield’s 10th album with his band the Savages is one of his best. Mixing original songs with well-chosen covers, this is a howling success from start to finish. Wild man Whitfield—who when not on tour can be found behind the counter at the Record Exchange in Salem—screams and shouts like the ghost of Screamin Jay Hawkins has taken control of his soul, heart, and mind throughout these 12 slabs of beefy goodness.
“Slowly Losing My Mind” and “Pain” are uptempo standouts, anchored by Whitfield’s wails, punk/garage guitar by ex-Lyres Peter Greenberg and saxophone squeals. “Tall, Black and Bitter” is a high-octane rocker infused with rousing blast of R&B.
“Tingling” and “I’ll Be Home Someday” shine, thanks to Doo-Wop intros and squawking sax, bluesy guitar and Whitfield’s Wilson Pickett/Solomon Burke shouts. “Let’s Go To Mars” is full-tilt rockabilly. “I Can’t Get No Ride” harks back to the organ-drenched soul of the Rascals and “Say What You Want” is a slowed-down organ blues in the Percy Sledge style.
On “Soul Flowers of Titan,” the Savages live up to their name, so crank up the volume and enjoy the party album of the year. Whitfield, a huge star in Europe, is one of rock’s primo frontmen. Check him and the Savages out tomorrow night upstairs at the Middle East in Cambridge, where they are playing a record release show.
