Album: Solomon Burke & De Dijk, Hold on Tight (Universal)

This, and not this past summer's Willie Mitchell production, is the last of King Solomon – the big man recorded busily with a Dutch rock-soul combo, on their patch, singing their (translated) material.

And it's not a bad record. In fact, because of the occasional European touch in the arrangements (accordion!), it's actually a more interesting artifact than the Mitchell one. Having said that, it is also hobbled by a paucity of good songs and a slightly splashy production. Solomon rides the turbulence like a whale.