Lowell Fulsom - Tramp / Soul (Reissue, Remastered) (1965-67/1991)

Bluesman Lowell Fulson was leaning into a soulful mood on his mid-'60s sides for Kent Records, and this two-fer CD collects a pair of his strongest efforts for the label on one disc. Tramp, of course, featured the relaxed funk groove of the title track, which became a chart hit and one of Fulson's best-known (and most covered) songs, and the accompanying album is an easygoing but flavorful effort informed by the Southern soul hits of the day. Soul, for you irony fans out there, sounds like a more blues-based effort, though the full-bodied horn section that appears on several tracks suggests a middle ground between Memphis groove and New York muscle, and Fulson's voice (as well as his guitar work) is in great shape throughout. Beginners interested in Fulson's Kent material may be better-served with the compilation The Tramp Years, but fans who already have a taste for Fulson's work would doubtless enjoy the super-sized portion available on his disc.