David Porter ... Into A Real Thing
Rarity - Sealed
Vocals – David Porter, Diane Lewis, Pat Lewis, Rose Williams
Backing Vocals – Joyce Pan, Telma Hopkins
Arranged by Dale Warren, David Porter, Ronnie Williams
Written by Bert Russell (A1), Wes Farrell (A1), David Porter (A2, B1, B2, B4), Ronnie Williams (A2, B1, B2, B4), Charles Jackson (B3), Luther Dixon (B3)
1LP, standard sleeve
Limited Edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : GZ Media
Label : VMP - Vinyl Me Please Classics series
Original Label : Enterprise
Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio , Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Engineered by Bobby Manuel, Eddie Wolfrom, Henry Bush, Larry Hamby, Marlin Greene, Steve Smith
Re-Mixed by Ron Capone
Produced by David Porter, Ronnie Williams, Isaac Hayes (B3)
Lacquer cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound
Photography by Joel Brodsky
Originally released in 1970
Reissued in 2023
Tracks:
Side A
- Hang On Sloopy
- Ooo-Wee Girl
Side B
- Too Real To Live A Lie
- Grocery Man
- I Don't Want To Cry
- Thirty Days
Review :
“David Porter parted ways with his songwriting partner Isaac Hayes in 1969 but the pair remained close -- close enough that Hayes produced Porter's 1970 debut, Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin' It. A year later, Hayes was busy with his own recording career so Porter turned to his new partner Ronnie Williams to collaborate on 1971's Into a Real Thing, but he hardly left Hayes behind. Isaac's influence is clearly felt on the opening "Hang on Sloopy," a bubblegum AM pop number inexplicably turned into a not-bad soul slow-burner, but the rest of the record finds Porter splicing this new progressive sound with the sound of Stax, tending to dress his tightly constructed songs in vivid, progressive color. Porter dips into lush soul ("Thirty Days") and cinematic funk ("Grocery Man") with enough variety to give this record appealing momentum, meaning that knockout songs are the main thing it lacks: the tunes are well crafted but the revival of Chuck Jackson's "I Don't Want to Cry" shows how the rest of this enjoyable album doesn't grab you by the throat. Ace's 2015 expansion adds three songs from the sessions, including the previously unreleased "Gotta Get Over the Hump" and "Somebody's Trying to Ride Piggy Back," a tune excavated in 1999 that's better than most of the record.” AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ratings :
AllMusic : 3 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.57 / 5