vinylfanatics.com

**Jackie Wilson - "He's So Fine": A Soul Legend's Forgotten Gem**

In the annals of soul music history, Jackie Wilson stands as one of the genre's most electrifying performers, a man whose athletic stage presence and soaring vocals earned him the nickname "Mr. Excitement." Yet among his extensive catalog, the 1959 album "He's So Fine" remains something of a hidden treasure, overshadowed by his more celebrated singles but deserving of recognition as a showcase for Wilson's remarkable range and the sophisticated production values of Berry Gordy Jr.'s early work.

By 1959, Wilson had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with following his departure from Billy Ward and His Dominoes. His solo career was gaining momentum with hits like "Reet Petite" and "Lonely Teardrops," the latter becoming his breakthrough smash and establishing the template for his unique blend of gospel fervor, pop sensibility, and R&B grit. "He's So Fine" arrived at a pivotal moment when Wilson was transitioning from promising newcomer to bona fide star, capturing an artist in full command of his considerable powers.

The album opens with its title track, a rollicking number that immediately establishes Wilson's vocal gymnastics as the main attraction. His voice swoops and soars over a tight rhythm section, demonstrating the kind of melismatic runs that would later influence everyone from Smokey Robinson to Michael Jackson. It's classic Wilson – urgent, passionate, and impossible to ignore. The song's arrangement, courtesy of Gordy and his team, strikes the perfect balance between restraint and exuberance, allowing Wilson's voice to be the star while providing a rock-solid foundation.

"Come Back to Me" stands as perhaps the album's finest moment, a heart-wrenching ballad that showcases Wilson's ability to convey genuine vulnerability without sacrificing any of his trademark intensity. The string arrangement is lush without being overwrought, and Wilson's vocal performance builds from whispered intimacy to full-throated desperation with masterful control. It's the kind of performance that reminds you why Wilson was considered one of the greatest live performers of his generation – even in the studio, he could make you believe every word.

The uptempo numbers like "Talk That Talk" and "Only You, Only Me" demonstrate Wilson's debt to gospel music, with call-and-response vocals and hand-clap rhythms that would become soul music staples. These tracks pulse with an energy that's almost tangible, Wilson's voice cutting through the mix like a knife through silk. The production, while not as sophisticated as what Motown would later achieve, has a raw immediacy that perfectly complements Wilson's passionate delivery.

What's particularly striking about "He's So Fine" is how it captures Wilson at a crossroads between the more polished pop productions that would dominate the early '60s and the grittier R&B sound of the previous decade. Songs like "I'll Be Satisfied" split the difference beautifully, with Wilson's gospel-trained vocals soaring over arrangements that wouldn't sound out of place on either a pop or R&B chart.

The album's lesser-known gems include "As Long as I Live," a mid-tempo groove that allows Wilson to stretch out vocally, and "Singing a Song," which features some of his most inventive vocal arrangements. These deeper cuts reveal an artist who was far more than just a dynamic performer – Wilson was a genuine interpreter of songs, capable of finding emotional truth in even the most conventional material.

Sadly, "He's So Fine" has been somewhat lost in the shuffle of Wilson's catalog, overshadowed by his hit singles and live recordings. This is unfortunate, as the album represents Wilson at his most consistent, delivering a full LP's worth of material without a single throwaway track. In an era when many R&B albums were little more than hit singles padded with filler, "He's So Fine" stands as a cohesive artistic statement.

Wilson's influence on subsequent generations of soul singers cannot be overstated, and "He's So Fine" serves as a master class in vocal technique and emotional delivery. From Elvis Presley to Prince, countless artists have cited Wilson as an influence, and this album demonstrates exactly why. It's a reminder that before there was Motown, before there was Stax, there was Jackie Wilson, setting the template for everything that would follow.

"He's So Fine" deserves rediscovery by anyone interested in the roots of soul music and the artistry of one of its greatest practitioners.