A Man of Value

by Douglas SiwekFollowing a string of hits at Capitol Records and the tutelage of producer David Axelrod, Lou Rawls jumped ship to MGM Records. While Rawls was never known for making solid album statements, A Man of Value is another record of strong efforts and filler fluff. Rawls charted with the title track in 1972, a song that boasted of his strengths in life and love. Most of the lyrical content on A Man of Value is brimming with self-empowerment and a social consciousness Rawls embodied throughout his career, whether covering an American standard or a chart-topper. Songs like "The Politician" and "Walk on In" contain strident soul production that provides the perfect backdrop for Rawls' molasses-thick vocal approach. Rawls adds a soft touch to James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" and reinterprets Stevie Wonder's "Evil" beautifully. Unfortunately, a handful of gems cannot save this album from being just another snoozer in Rawls' catalog.