Album Review of
Imagine This

Written by Joe Safari
July 9, 2016 - 12:00am EDT
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If you’ve been missing Wilson Pickett since that great soul singer’s demise, some of his spirit can be found in Roland Johnson. “Can’t Get Enough” and “Promised Land” render the evidence for the Pickett-like vocal phrasings, though in a less intense singing style than the Wicked Pickett’s – but who could match that?  “Mother” is another one, a New Orleans-style tune that digs into the ‘60s rhythm and blues bag, while “The Things You Do,” “Sweet Little Nothings” and especially the title track, “Imagine This” would get anyone off their butts and to the dance floor. Rather than cut new musical terrain, Johnson draws on the best of horn-driven old-style rhythm and blues to show it’s still kicking along just fine.