"The Iceman"--Jerry Butler

Jerry Butler, also known as "The Iceman",  is one of R&B's great singers of the 60's and 70's.  Growing up with Curtis Mayfield, they formed an early gospel group called the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers, and they were influenced by the gospel/soul sound of Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers.  After Butler left, they later became the famed The Impressions, where Curtis Mayfield and company achieved many hits throughout the 1960's--but that's a whole other story.  Jerry Butler released his first album "The Iceman Cometh", in 1968.

 "The Iceman Cometh" is Butler's best album, as his voice works magic with  the Philadelphia songwriting duo Gamble and Huff.  Together with the famed Philly soul strings, backing vocals, and Butler's strong, assertive, yet smooth vocals, "The Iceman" never sounded so better.  My favorite track on the album is the first track, "Hey, Western Union Man", which is one of those tracks that I tend to play more than once in a sitting.  The vocals, the arching chorus, strings, "Hey, Western Union Man" is the gem of what is one of Philly soul's great albums:

"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a great track too.  This track was often covered in the soul circuit, from Eddie Floyd to Isaac Hayes.  Even as recently, The Black Keys covered this track as well.  Check it out below:

In 1971, Butler again teamed with Gamble and Huff and recorded his second album, "Ice On Ice".  Great album, though maybe doesn't quite reach the heights of his first album.

Here's one of my favorite tracks off of "Ice on Ice", "What's the Use of Breaking Up":

These days, you can buy these first two Jerry Butler albums combined on one cd, "The Iceman Cometh/Ice on Ice".

Jerry Butler, "The Iceman", one of soul's greats and certainly one worth checking out!