The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra

What Can We Do?

Nola Blue Records

The San Francisco-based Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra was founded in 2007 by guitarist-songwriter Anthony Paule after a fateful phone call from his friend, Noel Hayes. The call was simply to request a backing band for Philadelphia soul and blues singer Frank Bey, who was coming to San Francisco to perform at Biscuits and Blues. Nineteen years, seven albums, nineteen Blues Music Award nominations, dozens of trips to Europe, and many festivals later, the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra is a widely recognized and respected musical powerhouse. Inspired by authentic soul and blues recordings of the ’60s and ’70s, this dramatic, horn-driven extravagant act took shape.

Produced by Larry Batiste with co-producers Paule, Christine Vitale, and Willy Jordan, most of the songs are written by them in various combinations. Willy Jordan sings lead vocals and is accompanied by guitarist Paule; keyboardist Tony Lufrano; bassist Timm Walker; drummer Bowen Brown; and a four-piece horn section including trombonist Derek James, trumpeter Ethan Pines, tenor saxophonist Charles McNeal, and baritone saxophonist Johnnie Bamont.

Known for having great authentic singers, the incomparable Jordan is the newest vocalist, having worked with Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio, which garnered him two Grammy Award nominations. Jordan holds court from a throne previously occupied by Wee Willie Walker, Frank Bey, and Terrie Odabi. His commanding vocals and unpretentious stage presence give audiences an honest, fresh, heartfelt experience.

The album opens with “Still Smellin’ Smoke,” a joyous song about a man with a few problems, as Jordan sings “Still smellin’ smoke, from the bridges I burned, staring down my past, everywhere I turn. I rode into town on an old Greyhound bus, driver hit the brakes, the wheels kicked up dust, stepped down with my suitcase, sun in my eyes, no one to meet me, I wasn’t surprised. Went to my old job, the boss treated me so cold, said I had to pay back, the money I stole, went to see my ex, needed a place to stay, forget I left her with two kids, and a baby on the way. Now I’m so tired hungry and broke and I feel like I’m gonna choke! Stopped by Joe’s, for an ice cold beer, bartender said, you’re not welcome here, last time you started a fight, busted up my place, you got some nerve to show your face, skeletons broke outta the closet, like they’re running a race. So many bad memories, I don’t wanna face, I think I should leave, no reason to stay, I never liked this broke down town anyway. They say I’m a liar, a cheat, a man you can’t trust, I don’t give a damn cuz, I’m back on the bus. I did it to myself, and I’m staring down the past, let me tell y’all, that ain’t no easy task. Gotta get on the bridge, the smoke’s churning, I don’t know, my eyes are really burning.”

On “Too Late,” Jordan’s beautiful voice sounds churchlike on this gospel-styled ballad, with some great Hammond B-3 from Lufrano, as Jordan chimes “Watching You walk away, I’ve got no one to myself to blame, I shoulda done better, and put you first, Now it’s too late, too late, too late. Songs never danced to, memories never made, I didn’t pay attention when love started to fade, I did too much running around, now I’ve run out of time, and it’s too late, too late, too,late. I knew I’d get by, you always gave me one more try, but my lies have gotten old, and so have I, I can tell by the look in your eye, That’s there’s no more, one more time, no more one more time. Nothing left to hold on to, nothing left to save, I’m all alone, that’s the price I pay, I wish I’d been a better man It’s too late, it’s too late, it’s too late, It’s too late, too late, too late.”

“Stranger” features Jordan as he once again sings as if he were pained, as he chants “You and I were two hearts with one soul, holding each other, through life’s highs and lows. A bond so strong, free from conditions, a pure display, of love’s definition. We don’t laugh, dance, or sing like before, our conversations sound like we’re at war, I ask you why you get so drunk, you tell me I ain’t no fun, an empty bottle between us, and we’re welcoming the sun. You’re not the woman, I once knew, my heart is in danger, who are you? I’m in love with a stranger…I feel a chill, I think you’re leaving me.”

On the rocker “You Lie Like A Rug,” a duet with Larry Batiste, Jordan once again sounds pained, as he moans “You get off work early, come home late at night, you say, you’re helping a friend, that don’t sound quite right, I went to your job, just to check on you, your boss says he ain’t seen you, since yesterday at 2:00. Every time you open your mouth, ain’t no tellin’ what’s coming out, you lie, you lie like a rug. Said you hadn’t been married, when we first met, My banker friend tells me, you been cashing alimony checks. Might as well come clean, tell me what I already know, you told me about one child, I heard about four mo’. One day you need money, some help to pay your rent, next day you come around, with plenty money to spend, you told me your uncle died, left you a house and money too, standing in line at the post office, the poster looked just like you. You lie, you lie like a rug, I see what you’re putting down. You lie, you lie like a rug. You’re a woman I just can’t trust. You lie, you lie like a rug, and the word is all over the town. You lie, you lie like a rug, your boss told me you’re cheatin’ on us.”

“Bigger Guitar” is the first of two instrumentals, this one written by guitarist Paule, who really knows how to play with a big band, with Lufrano on grand piano, Walker on bass, Brown on drums, and the four-piece horn section, with a solo from trombonist James before the saxes take over.

On the doo-wop-styled title track “What Can We Do,” Endre Tarczy is on bass, Kevin Hayes plays drums, and Rob Sudduth replaces Bamont on baritone sax, with harmony from the Sons of the Soul Revivers — Dwayne Morgan, the late Walter Morgan, and James Morgan — and Jon Otis added on percussion, as Jordan groans “What can we do? I hear the children murmuring, What can we do? We’ve really made a mess of things, people are dying, Mother Earth she’s crying, what can we do, what can we do, what can we do, what can we do?..It’s up to me, and you, What can we do, what will we do?”

On the slow ballad “The Heart Never Says Goodbye,” Jordan is featured on the lead vocal, with Bamont on sax and flute and with backing vocals from Batiste, Omega Rae, and Nona Brown, as Jordan declares “Under the stars, just me and you, sharing dreams, we knew would come true, then one day, everything changed, holding you in my arms, as you faded away, I miss seeing you, wearing my favorite smile, your voice, your touch, it’s been a while…Sometime I cry, ’cause the heart, never says goodbye… I surround myself, with memories so clear, sometimes I laugh like your still here, In my dreams we’re dancing so close, in slow motion, when I wake up I’m lost in emotion, don’t know what to do, or how to let go, I kept your last message, it’s still on my phone, sometimes I cry ’cause the heart never says goodbye.”

On another rocker, “Secret,” Jordan cries out “Tired of hiding in shadows, when someone’s around, hanging in low life dives, on the bad side of town, while you’re having fun, I’m coming undone, pretending I’m your only one. I don’t wanna, be your secret anymore, sneaking in and out, in and out your back door, I don’t wanna, I’m not gonna, be your secret anymore. Go ahead ignore me, when you see me on the street, keep looking down, so our eyes don’t meet, that man you’re with, if he only knew, when he wasn’t home, I was messing with you. I’m done lying, and creeping around, I’m done wasting my time, and I’m walking proud, no more hiding in shadows, when someone’s around, I’m going to love you out loud, I don’t wanna’, I’m not gonna’ be your secret anymore.”

“If It Ain’t One Thing It’s Two” features Jordan as he belts “Walk to work in the rain, holes in both my boots, trouble comes in pairs, twice as much as I can use. What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do? Every word I say is true, If it ain’t one thing it’s two, there’s nothing new. Trouble sticks around like gum on my shoe, It’s a tricky situation, I don’t have a clue, what am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do? No matter where I go, no peace can be found, get sniffed out, chewed up, by a lost and hungry hound, what am I supposed to do?…My baby’s gone for hours, to buy a dozen eggs, nothin’ open at 3:00 am, ‘cept hospitals and legs, what am I supposed to do…every word I say is true, what am I supposed to do.”

On the topical “Walkin’,” Jordan bursts “Times are uncertain, don’t know what to do. The world’s hurting, too much bad news. Man on TV, filling me with fear, is it truth or a lie, what did I just hear? My mind’s spinning, can’t sleep at night, I know I’m gonna be alright. Keep on walkin’, keep on walkin’…Soaring prices, inflations’s guaranteed, I got rent to pay, a family to feed, shooter drills in schools, that’s no education, people sleeping on the streets, it’s the color of our nation, I wish I could change it, but there’s nothing I can do, so I’m gonna put on my shoes, I got to keep on walkin’ I’m gonna be alright.”

The only cover is “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You,” written by Russ Morgan, Larry Stock, and James Cavanaugh, with more great guitar from Paule. First recorded in 1946 by Morgan, the best-known version, however, is the one sung by Dean Martin in 1960, as Jordan croons “You’re nobody till somebody loves you, you’re nobody till somebody cares, you may be the king, you may possess the world and it’s gold, but gold won’t bring you happiness when you’re growing old. The world is still the same, you’ll never change it, as sure as the stars shine above, Oh, your nobody till somebody loves you, so find yourself somebody to love.”

The album closes with a second instrumental, “Blue Mood Indigo,” co-written by Paule and Lufrano, with Tarczy on bass, Hayes on drums, and the four-piece horn section.

The 12-piece Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan returns after the 2024 multi-Blues Music Award-nominated “What Are You Waiting For?” “What Can We Do?” delivers eleven resonant originals with their powerful songwriting synergy and unmistakable retro-soul sound, and one compelling cover. The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra will move you in the moment and stay in your soul.

Richard Ludmerer

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