Personnel: Harvey Thompson (tenor saxophone); Harrison Calloway, Jr. (trumpet); Charles Rose (trombone); Barry Beckett (keyboards); Roger Hawkins (drums); Tom Roady (congas); Mary Holladay, Jeanie Greene, Ginger Holladay (background vocals).
Liner Note Author: Neil Slaven.
Arrangers: David Briggs ; Phil Walden.
It's appropriate that "When A Man Loves a Woman" is included in the title of the Percy Sledge compilation ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE. Not only is the song one of Sledge's greatest moments, but the singer's impassioned wail on it puts the song among the very greatest tracks in R&B history.
Fortunately, Sledge brought the same level of emotional intensity evident in the classic single to all of his performances, and some of the best of those are included here. "Warm and Tender Love" and "Take Time to Know Her" are on offer, for instance, as are a handful of Otis Redding covers ("I've Been Loving You Too Long" is a standout) and takes on pop material (like Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale"). There aren't many surprises here, just beautiful, vintage soul music from one of the gene's master singers.
