Max Kaplan & the Magics – Mind on My Heart
Color Red Music
8 songs – 28 minutes
A native New Yorker with an unabating love for the sounds of Memphis blues, funk and soul, guitarist/vocalist Max Kaplan hits a homerun with this debut CD. Delivering deep-in-the-pocket originals with classic, old-school appeal, it’s a well-executed treat that will have you craving for more.
The music took hold in Max in childhood thanks to a guitarist father who taught him how to play and instilled in him such a deep appreciation for the sounds emanating from Stax, Hi Records and other Bluff City icons. The lessons were so overpowering that Kaplan relocated to Memphis as an adult with the goal of synthesizing the sounds of his influences – James Brown, B.B. King, Al Green, the Staple Singers and others — and to add his own voice to their legacy.
Co-produced by Kaplan, Jad Tiriq and John Németh bandmates Jon Hay and Matthew Wilson, this one was recorded at Queen of Tuck Studios and The Harbert House. Max handles vocals and six-string throughout with Al Gamble and Gerald Stephens on keys, Hay, Tariq and Wilson on guitars and/or bass and percussion, and Art Edmaiston and Marc Franklin on horns. Danny Banks, a third member of the Németh ensemble, handles drums, and Alic Hasen contributes strings.
“She’s Cryin’” kicks off action with Max quietly describing dark clouds roiling over the city and unleashing rain that feels as if it could engulf the entire world, and all the telephone lines are down — a perfectly retro touch considering it’s an analog reference in an all-digital world. You might assume that he’s singing about Memphis from the open. But as the tune progresses, you learn that Kaplan’s lady is crying about unresolved relationship problems, too.
A cover of Ann Peebles’ 1971 Hi hit “99 Pounds” – which has become a fan favorite in Max’s live set – follows before Hasen’s strings open the percussive “Born to Love You.” Kicking off as a ballad and slowly building in intensity, it’s another number penned during the downside of romance. This time, the woman’s gone and the singer’s left with regret and a hole where his heart used to be. The feel sweetens for “Company,” but problems still persist…but the pain abates when other folks are around when things are bad.
Fear not, however, the funk kicks in big time for “Shake (All Your Good Mama Gave You),” a number that would have the Godfather of Soul smiling and will definitely have you heading to the dance floor as Kaplan expresses: “Let your freak flag fly. Don’t try to hide it, baby!” And the mood brightens for “Mind on My Heart,” which finds the singer working diligently to make ends meet and deeply appreciated of the woman who remains steadfastly at his side.
But he’s the one announcing a split in the quiet ballad, “Loving, I’m Leaving.” Loosely based on Al Green’s “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” he departs with regret while delivering an interesting message that romance can be treacherous if you’re not careful because the shadows you see on the wall can tell a different story than what you’re seeing with your own eyes. “What Kind of Fool,” an original that shares its title with The Tams’ ‘60s chart-topper, closes the disc with a little more torment as Kaplan serves up a complaint about being treated so poorly in a relationship that he wonders who’ll be crazy enough to follow in his place.
Some of the best classic music emanating from Memphis walks the razor’s edge between romance and heartbreak, and this contemporary serving from Max Kaplan exhibits perfect balance on the blade. If your bag’s filled with soul-blues, you’re going to love this one. I do.
