"If James Brown is Soul Brother Number One, you can make a very credible case for Dan Penn being number two. The Alabama native has had a hand in writing a fair number of classic soul songs, and here he commits his versions of them to tape for the first time, recording, of course, in Muscle Shoals, with their fabulous house band, and a horn section including former Memphis Horn member Wayne Jackson. It's a tall order Penn sets himself, offering himself up for comparison with greats like James Carr, Aretha Franklin, and James and Bobby Purify, who have sung his songs -- and that's just the start of the list. However, he comes out very well, beginning with a quiet take on "The Dark End of the Street," coming across like a note to a secret lover, rather than a cry of pain. Penn can't just write great songs, he can perform 'em too, in a manner as soulful as the greats, as this record shows. The man deserves to be an American musical icon." (Chris Nickson, Allmusic)
