Review: Rita Coolidge – Nice Feelin’

Rita Coolidge – Nice Feelin’ (A&M SP4325)

Nice Feelin’ is a critical album in the career of Rita Coolidge. Her last album, Rita Coolidge, was a safe endeavor for her, being backed by superstar session men, Leon Russell, Steve Stills, Graham Nash, and others. This new LP, however, is purely Miss Coolidge, with the help of the efficient and unflashy Dixie Flyers.

“Family Full of Soul”, the opening cut, is like most opening cuts, an excellent piece of music. The expectations aroused from this song are not disappointed in the others. “Nice Feelin'” is one of the few title cuts worthy of naming the entire album after.

Rita Coolidge, unlike most successful artists, never holds herself to any one particular vein of music, from the blues of I’ll Be Here, to the introspective Journey Through the Past, a Neil Young tune from his upcoming Harvest album, she is continually applying her talents to new musical catagories.

I’d like to say that Rita Coolidge will be the next Carole King, but then I’d be insinuating that the two are similar in style, which is false. So I’ll say that Rita Coolidge is a very talented singer and performer, and Nice Feelin‘ is a nice showcase for her talent, and leave it at that.

Courtesy of the Door (aka San Diego Door) – Cameron Crowe –  December 9 – 23, 1971