This time we are not going to close our column with the blackest of the black, but with a blue-eyed soul boy out of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania whose career spans over a quarter of a century. Billy first appeared as a vocalist with Roy Buchanan in the 70s (two albums) before launching his own Keystone Rhythm Band, which resulted in four albums in the 80s, and this latest offering, The Soul Collection (Green Dolphin, GD41297; '97), is preceded by one 90s blues set. For more information visit his web site: www.billyprice.com.

On The Soul Collection there's only one original tune--a swayer called A Man Must Stand for Something--as Billy's main purpose is to pay tribute to some of our heroes by covering some of their most memorable achievements, such as Let It Happen (James Carr), Beautiful Feeling (Darrell Banks), Gonna Forget About You (O.V. Wright), Your Time to Cry (Joe Simon), You Got Me Knocking (Arthur Alexander), I Can't Stand It (Soul Sisters), I Betcha Didn't Know That (Frederick Knight), It's In the Wind (Don Covay, Lou Johnson), Let Yourself Go (Syl Johnson), Something 'Bout 'Cha (Latimore), Why Can't We Be Lovers (Lamont Dozier), Dangerous Highway (Eddie Hinton), and--most notably!--Otis Clay with I Didn't Know the Meaning of Pain, I Die a Little Each Day and the highlight of the CD, That's How It Is, on which Otis joins for a duet.

Billy openly admits that he doesn't want to sound like a black man any more, and that's good, because--as it is--the blue-eyed phrasing and the flavour are audible, and the voice can't take any more forcing into a black direction without becoming too artificial. There, however, is a certain tenseness that tends to control natural flow, easiness, and colour. But don't get me wrong, as for my ears that is the case with almost all the blue-eyed voices out there. Today Billy is one of the best there is, and if he can work as a bridge to the real soul gems--like the Righteous Brothers and especially Bobby Hatfield did for me in the 60s--so fine. By the way, real instruments! KEEP PEEPING DEEP!