Category:
Roots

Try if you like:
Blowfly, James Brown, Rudy Ray Moore

OK folks, time to step out of your lover, have a few cocktails, and talk about the hot time you had in as many veiled references to getting laid as is possible in a three minute tune. This is a celebration of fornication; as Mr. David sings here, it’s “Better When You Steal It,” so keep “Motel Lovers” away from fundamentalists and from your partner, ‘cause this is a call to some serious sinnin’. Bobby Rush’s “Night Fishin’” sets the tone right way, but this set is relentless. And lest you think sneaking some ass is a man thing, the women set that straight with such heavy hitters as Big Cynthia’s “Don’t Rock the Boat,” Sheba Potts-Wright’s “Slow Roll It,” and, especially Denise LaSalle’s “Long Dong Silver.”

The music emphasizes slow to mid-tempo soul, perfect for grooving, dancing, and for the horizontal mambo. It is even good enough, as Willie Clayton sings, for “Three People.” “Motel Lovers” is solid sweaty fun. The Chitlin Circuit can be found these days on blues radio and in the parks and at picnics in Alabama, Mississippi and other points south.  Regional, marginalized and probably not well thought of outside its community, good old southern coital soul still goes down damn fine and hot. Further proof that it isn’t the size of your pencil, but how you writing your name. Motel Lovers: Southern Soul From The Chittlin Circuit is all about writing your name all over the damn joint.