EDDIE FLOYD > Eddie Floyd Loves You

Eddie Floyd is best remembered for co-writing and singing “Knock on Wood,” a 1966 Stax Records hit that, in many ways, defined the Memphis label’s aesthetic. Still, Floyd put his name on several recordings that went somewhat beyond conventional notions of soul music.Label: Stax
[Rating: 3.5 stars]

Eddie Floyd is best remembered for co-writing and singing “Knock on Wood,” a 1966 Stax Records hit that, in many ways, defined the Memphis label’s aesthetic. Still, Floyd put his name on several recordings that went somewhat beyond conventional notions of soul music. “Raise Your Hand” and “On a Saturday Night” are gratifyingly abstract Stax sides, while 1968’s “Big Bird” is commonly cited as one of the greatest-and most experimental-soul records ever made. Eddie Floyd Loves You is worthy of Stax at its best, with Floyd lending his voice to various country-soul grooves. It’s a gentle, even-handed collection that balances ballads and rockers. “Head to Toe” and “You’re So Fine” sound suitably offhand. “I Will Always Have Faith in You” is a reworked and slightly re-titled version of Carla Thomas’ 1967 “I’ll Always Have Faith in You.” Floyd pleads gracefully, and if he sounds a trifle less brassy than he did 40 years ago, the sweet, heartfelt “I Don’t Want to Be with Nobody but You” communicates nostalgia and yearning in equal measures.