B

Wright, O.V.

Band members Related acts

- O.V. (Overton Vertis) Wright (RIP 1980) - vocals

- none known

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: (If It Is) Only for Tonight Company: BackBeat Catalog: LP-61 Year: 1965 Grade (cover/record): VG++/VG++ Comments: still in shrink wrap Available: 1 Price: $150.00	Like so many others, Overton Vertis Wright's musical background derived from the Church. Gifted with a deep, gravely voice, Wright began his professional musical career at the ripe age of twelve as a member of the Golden Leaf Missionary Baptist Church. As a teenager, he spent the late-'50s and early-'60s performing with a string of Gospel groups, including The Harmony Echoes, The Hi Way Que-Cs, The Sunset Travellers and Spirit of Memphis Quintette. Interested in pursuing a non-secular solo career, in 1964 Wright was introduced to Quinton Claunch, owner of Gold Wax Records. Impressed with Wright's voice and some of his material, including the song "That's How Strong My Love Is" Claunch signed Wright to a recording deal, promptly releasing the previously mentioned track as a single. Unfortunately, with Wright's former group The Sunset Travellers signed to Duke Records, company president Don Robey promptly slapped Wright and Gold Wax with an injunction, eventually forcing Wright to continue his career signed to Duke's BackBeat subsidiary. You simply won't find many albums fittingly described as 'deep soul' than 1965's "(If It Is Only) For Tonight". A perfect showcase for Wright's instantly recognizable voice, material such as "Motherless Child", "Could Wrote a Book (About Heartache)" and "Everybody Knows (The River Song)" was a clear reflection of Wright's long standing Gospel roots. A loving mixture of pain, heartbreak and more pain ("Can't Find True Love"), mid-'60s soul simply didn't get much better than this !!! While every one of these twelve tracks was worth hearing, highlights included the Sam Cooke-styled "Wish I Were That Boy" and the mandatory dance track "Monkey Dog" (Arthur Conley should've recorded this one). Really the only complaint here was the fact the abrasive female backing vocals and isolated string and horn arrangements weren't particularly well suited to Wright's work. "(If It Is Only) For Tonight" track listing: 1.) (If It Is Only) For Tonight 2.) Why Don't You Believe Me 3.) Can't Find True Love 4.) Motherless Child 5.) You've Been Crying 6.) Could Wrote a Book (About Heartache) 7.) You're Gonna Make Me Cry 8.) Wish I Were That Boy 9.) Monkey Dog 10.) Don't Want To Sit Down 11.) Everybody Knows (The River Song) 12.) I Can't Believe (You've Got the Nerve To Cry)

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Memphis Unlimited Company: BackBeat Catalog: BBLX-72 Year: 1973 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: promotional white label; sticker on back cover Available: 1 Price: $65.00	1973's "Memphis Unlimited" teamed the artist with producer Willie Mitchell. As you might expect, backed by the cream of the Hi rhythm section, Mitchell's influence was clearly heard, the set baring a heavy resemblance to his work with Al Green, though Wright's sinewy voice and raw delivery remained instantly recognizable. Brimming with tales of personal, professional and social pain and injustice (check out "Ghetto Child" and the classic "He's My Son (Just the Same)"), virtually every one of the dozen tracks was worth hearing. Personal favorites included "The Only Thing That Saved Me" and the horn-propelled closer "I'm Going Home (To Live with God)". Like the rest of his catalog, the album quickly vanished without a trace, though "I'd Rather Be Blind, Cripple and Crazy" and "I've Been Searching" both hit the R&B singles charts. "Memphis Unlimited" track listing: 1.) I've Been Searching (Earl Randle) - 2:34 2.) Nothing Comes To a Sleeper (Earle Randle) - 3:15 3.) The Only Thing That Saved Me (D. Carter - J. Shaw) - 2:30 4.) He's My Son (Just the Same) (D. Malone) - 2:44 5.) You Must Believe In Yourself (J. Copeland - D. Malone) - 2:41 6.) Last In the Shuffle (D. Randle) - 3:22 7.) I'd Rather Be Blind, Cripple and Crazy (traditional arranged by Willie Mitchell) (C. Hodges - D. Malone - D. Carter) - 2:41 8.) Please Forgive Me (C. Hodges - D. Malone - D. Carter) - 4:01 9.) Are You Going Where I'm Coming From (E. Wright - D. Malone) - 3:08 10.) Ghetto Child (J. Copeland - D. Malone) - 3:15 11.) Memory Blues (D. Malone) - 3:18 12.) I'm Going Home (To Live with God) (traditional - arranged by Willie Mitchell) - 2:40

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Into Something (I Can't Shake Loose) Company: Hi Catalog: HLP 6001 Year: 1975 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Price: $35.00	Ending his long-standing association with Don Robey and the BackBeat label, 1975's "Into Something (I Can't Shake Loose)" found Wright having signed with long-time producer Willie Mitchell's Hi Records. Bringing the same mix of creativity and sympathy he displayed on his classic work with Al Green, Mitchell proved a sympathetic collaborator. Musically the set was fairly diverse allowing Wright to take stabs at patented deep soul ("I Feel Love Growin'" and "God Bless Our Love"), as well as lighter, more commercial material ("You Gotta Have Love") and even a couple of Green-styled ballads ("Time We Have"). Released as singles the title track and "Precious Precious" both went top-50 R&B. (Always loved the back cover blue leisure suit ...) "Into Something I Can't Shake Loose" track listing: 1.) Into Something (Can't Shake Loose) (Earl Randle - J. Shaw) - 4:22 2.) I Feel Love Growin' (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randall) - 3:47 3.) Precious, Precious (David Crawford - E. Moore) - 3:30 4.) Time We Have (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randall) - 3:00 5.) You Gotta Have Love (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randall) - 3:05 6.) Trying to Live My Life (E. Williams) - 2:39 7.) Medley - 12:46 God Bless Our Love (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle- Al Green) When a Man Loves a Woman (C. Lewis - A. Wright) That's How Strong My Love Is (R. Jamison)

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: The Bottom Line Company: Hi Catalog: HLP 6008 Year: 1978 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: Available: 1 Price: $35.00	Produced and engineered by Mitchell (who also contributed several tracks), 1978's "The Bottom Line" demonstrated Wright remained in prime form (a brief jail sentence appears to have temporarily straightened out some of his personal demons). Exemplified by material such as the title track, the hysterical "I Don't Do Windows" (his final R&B chart single) and "That's the Way I Feel About Cha" Wright's old school soul was hopelessly out of step with contemporary tastes. To this day it amazes us that K.C. and the Sunshine Band could top the charts while Wright couldn't even catch a cold ... A must own for soul fans (this is one of the few albums we actually own two copies of). Naturally the set vanished without a trace. (We've always loved the cool portrait that graced the cover ...) "The Bottom Line" track listing: 1.) The Bottom Line (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle - George Jackson - Yvonne Mitchell)- 3:09 2.) I Don't Do Windows (George Jackson - Robert Moore) - 2:21 3.) That's the Way I Feel About Cha (Joe Hicks - John Grisby - Bobby Womack) - 4:24 4.) Your Good Thing Is About To End (Isaac Hayes - David Porter) - 4:56 5.) Let's Straighten It Out (Benny Latimore) - 3:47 6.) I Don't Know Why (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 3:19 7.) No Easy Way To Say Goodbye (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 4:00 8.) A Little More Time (Willie Mitchell) - 5:22 9.) Since You Left These Arms of Mine (Willie Mitchell - George Jackson) - 3:41 10.) A Long Road (Willie Mitchell - Earl Randle) - 2:31

Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: We're Still Togethe Company: Hi Catalog: HLP 6011 Year: 1979 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: Available: 1 Price: $20.00	With disco ruling the charts, one couldn't exactly blame Wright for wanting to cash in on a piece of the action ("The Hurt Is On"). Unfortunately, in spite of a couple of interesting efforts, most of 1979's "We're Still Together" came off as a sad failure. Wright's voice remained distincitve, but among the few tracks worth hearing more than once were the tale of woe title track, Wright's cover of Aretha Franklin's "Baby Baby Baby" and "Today I Sing the Blues". Sales probably weren't help by the dumbsh*t cover art. Sadly, the following year Wright suffered a fatal heart attack; later attributed in part to an ongoing drug problem. He was only 41. "We're Still Together" track listing: 1.) We're Still Together - 3:45 2.) I Found Peace - 4:12 3.) It's Cold without Your Love - 3:42 4.) Baby Baby Baby - 3:30 5.) I'm Gonna Stay - 3:22 6.) The Hurt Is On - 5:13 7.) Today I Sing the Blues - 4:48 8.) Mirror of My Soul - 4:33 9.) Sacrifice - 4:30

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