Listen To My Song - The Music City Sessions

iTunes Review

Darondo—the charismatic Oakland soul singer with a scratchy but instantly convincing croon—experienced an unexpected resurgence in 2006 thanks to the perseverance of Luv N’Haight Records, which made a hit out of his once-forgotten 1973 single “Didn’t I.” That song—a heartstopping lover’s plea that recalls Al Green in his most sincerely confessional moments—is at the heart of Darondo’s discography. Listen to My Song collects previously unreleased recordings from the same set of sessions that produced “Didn’t I,” representing an important (and previously unknown) chapter in Darondo’s remarkable career. Of course “Didn’t I” is here, but the real attractions of this compilation are new discoveries like “I Don’t Understand It” (a slice of hard-strutting Oakland funk) and “I’m Lonely” (a torch song that shares the stark immediacy, if not the towering transcendence, of the untouchable “Didn’t I”). Despite their low fidelity, these recordings are as powerful as the singles Darondo released during his prime, and they make a welcome addition to his slim but distinguished discography.