I'll Treat You Right

I'll Treat You Right
Studio album by
Released1992
RecordedNovember 1991
StudioStudio Six, Memphis
GenreBlues, soul, R&B
LabelBullseye Blues
ProducerRon Levy
Otis Clay chronology
Watch Me Now
(1989)
I'll Treat You Right
(1992)
On My Way Home
(1993)

I'll Treat You Right is an album by the American musician Otis Clay, released in 1992.[1][2] It was recorded and released around the same time as labelmate Ann Peebles's Full Time Love, allowing the two to tour together.[3] I'll Treat You Right peaked at No. 75 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart.[4] Clay thought that Bullseye Blues could have done more to promote the album.[5]

Production

Produced by Ron Levy, the album was recorded in November 1991 at Studio Six, in Memphis.[6][7][8] Levy used the Memphis Horns, guitar player Little Jimmy King, and Hi Records session musicians.[6] Clay detested creating demos and insisted on singing with the full band on every song take.[9] "Love Bone" was written by Teenie Hodges.[10] "Leave Me and My Woman Alone" is based on a song by Little Milton.[11] "Don't Burn the Bridge" is a version of the Albert King song.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to Soul[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide[15]
The North County Blade-Citizen[16]

The Chicago Tribune called the album "a solid new set of Southern soul and blues."[17] Rolling Stone concluded, "There's a tendency toward smoothed edges and sterility in the sound of the instruments... And [most of] the songs ... are simply ordinary. Anyone could have sung them."[10] The Morning Call praised the "powerful, pliable, from-the-heart soul and gospel vocals".[18]

The North County Blade-Citizen noted the "remarkable range of Clay's interpretive abilities."[16] Robert Christgau listed "Thank a Lot" as a "choice cut".[19] The Orlando Sentinel opined that I'll Treat You Right was among the best R&B albums of 1992.[20]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."I Can Take You to Heaven Tonight" 
2."Thanks a Lot" 
3."Leave Me and My Woman Alone" 
4."Love Bone" 
5."Children Gone Astray" 
6."Don't Burn the Bridge" 
7."Back Away from It (Or Leave Me Alone)" 
8."Gonna Take My Heart's Advice" 
9."Believe That" 
10."Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do" 

References

  1. ^ Katz, Larry (March 10, 1992). "Blues label revives Memphis soul Rounder gives Memphis new soul". Entertainment. Boston Herald. p. 45.
  2. ^ Poet, J. (September 1992). "Blues, Soul, etc". Utne Reader. No. 53. p. 124.
  3. ^ Valdes, Alisa (June 18, 1992). "Ann Peebles, Otis Clay". The Boston Globe. p. CAL10.
  4. ^ "Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 33. August 15, 1992. p. 18.
  5. ^ Krewen, Nick (October 18, 1995). "Otis Clay returns Friday to Volcano". The Record. Kitchener. p. D8.
  6. ^ a b "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 20. May 16, 1992. p. 45.
  7. ^ Hoekstra, Dave (December 22, 1991). "Otis Clay, rooted in soul". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 1.
  8. ^ Nager, Larry (May 8, 1992). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. E19.
  9. ^ Kot, Greg (June 4, 1992). "They're soul survivors: Otis Clay and Ann Peebles still deliver the essence of the Memphis sound". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  10. ^ a b Palmer, Robert (June 25, 1992). "Recordings". Rolling Stone. No. 633. p. 42.
  11. ^ Morthland, John (May 7, 1992). "Otis Clay stokes the home fires". LA Weekly. Vol. 14, no. 22. p. 49.
  12. ^ Ferman, Dave (May 22, 1992). "The Music Beat". Star Time. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 10.
  13. ^ All Music Guide to Soul. Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 143.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 1114.
  15. ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 114.
  16. ^ a b Trageser, Jim (May 8, 1992). "Blues Reviews". Preview. The North County Blade-Citizen. Vol. 8, no. 82. p. 23.
  17. ^ Heim, Chris (May 22, 1992). "Soul man". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. P.
  18. ^ Goff, Paula H. (October 23, 1992). "Otis Clay Soul of Timelessness". The Morning Call. p. D1.
  19. ^ "Otis Clay". Robert Christgau. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  20. ^ Gettelman, Parry (October 29, 1993). "Otis Clay". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.