Johnny Rawls: My Turn To Win (JSP 2116; 48:00)

A seasoned performer on the Southern chitlin' circuit, Rawls envelops his wise blend of soul and blues in the aura of believable emotional intensity. This Mississippi-born- blues man, now in his late 40s, appears to understand how to resolve the hurt he sings about in the ballad "Can't Stop Thinkin' About You" and in the funky lament "Oh Please Come Back." Unless your jaw muscles are shot, the hyper-infectious "Bad Reputation" will elicit a big, big smile. Even though the horns and other musical accompaniment grafted onto the "basic tracks" smack a little too clearly of soul-time cliche, the album is a winner.