360 Degrees of Billy Paul

Album Review

Paul's first album for Philadelphia International was straight club jazz — sales were slow. This time, Gamble & Huff gave Paul material strong enough to make his sophomore release a viable commercial entity. "Brown Baby" speaks of people of color making their parents and others proud, and the message is positive and correct. "I'm Just a Prisoner" is real but would have been better served without the string section. It's a stark depiction of a man who has served five years and is contemplating his future. It is about the unsettling fact that he's just a prisoner. Its chilling chorus tells it all — "The cell is cold as hell/you'll never get use to the smell/my bed is hard as wood/I got to fight to keep my manhood." The riveting saga doesn't just end — the fade is lengthy and features a dejected Paul woefully mourning about the conditions, the situation, and the turmoil of prison life. He sounds believable and frustrated belting "Me & Mrs. Jones," a classic that many relate to, and those who don't have no problem being down with the passionate singing and clawing lyrics describing the unapologetic infidelity. His "It's Too Late" is a fine rendition of Carole King's classic. You might not recognize "Let's Stay Together," popularized by Al Green. Paul does it MOR/jazz style, with a lot of improvising before crooning the original lyrics. It shows versatility, but people who bought "Jones" probably didn't appreciate it. A version of Elton John's "Your Song" introduced the Britisher to fans of soul music. Vince Montana's magical vibes punctuate the rhythm, which turns into a lightweight gospel revival. "Am I Black Enough for You" fit in with the times of overt black consciousness, a social message moved along by a perky bongo and clavinet-dominated beat and well-spaced, brassy horn hits. A too staid "I'm Gonna Make It This Time," co-written by Bunny Sigler, marked Paul's second adventure in urban, club jazz on 360 Degrees; this one has bite, and Paul sings it with fire. The 2002 CD reissue on Epic/Legacy adds a live version of "Me and Mrs. Jones" from Paul's 1974 Live in Europe album.