Don't Give Up on Me is one of the great comeback albums of all time. Sure it did not sell mega sales but it did sell enough to rejuvenate Solomon Burke's career in last ten years of his life. I am not sure many people would have picked a late career resurgence for the big man. It had been more than 30 years since he had troubled the charts and while there were no hits on this album - the album sold well and he recorded another 2 or three solid albums before he died in 2010.
He as an early Atlantic soul artist whose early career was guided by the production and occasional songwriting of Bert Berns he retired a few times to follow his other career as a preacher. He was enticed to try again by Joe Henry a recording artist in his own right but also a producer sought out by many artists including Mary Gauthier, Elvis Costello, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Over the Rhine.
Using a template others would follow Doe collected specifically written songs from some terrific writers Van Morrison, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits, Dan Penn and Dylan as the foundation for this album. Highlights for me are the classic Waits' song (Always Keep a) Diamond on Your Mind, Morrison's Fast Train and Dan Penn's title track Don't Give Up on Me. To me the cornerstones of what should be considered an essential soul album of the last 20 years.
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