Willie Mitchell - It's What's Happenin' (2014)

A listless set of mid-'60s hits partially redeemed by "Bad Eye," the only original Willie Mitchell song on the album. It's also the most soulful by miles and miles. It's What's Happenin' finds Mitchell in Herb Alpert/Bill Black mode, running through the usual suspects like "What Now My Love," "The 'In' Crowd," and "Wooly Bully." The jump in energy when "Bad Eye" begins side two is startling; it's a classic Willie Mitchell number: driving beat, deep groove, and tasteful arrangement. The hope generated quickly fades as the remaining tracks on side two pick up where the first left off, ending with a forgettable rendering of "The Shadow of Your Smile."