Piano – Les McCann Bass – Leroy Vinnegar Congas – Victor Pantoja (A1, A3, B2) Drums – Donald Dean Strings – Emanuel Green (A1-2, B1, B3), Harvey Shapiro (A1-2, B1, B3), Kermit Moore (A1-2, B1, B3), Noel DaCosta (A1, A2, B1, B3), Richard Elias (A1-2, B1, B3), Ron Carter (A1-2, B1, B3), Selwart Clarke (A1-2, B1, B3), Theodore Israel (A1-2, B1, B3), Warren Laffredo (pistes : A1-2, B1, B3), Winston Collymore (A1-2, B1, B3) Timbales – Willie Bobo (A1, A3, B2) Conductor, Arranged by William Fischer (A1-2, B1, B3) Written by Leroy Vinnegar (A1), Abner Silverand (A2), Benny Davis (A2), Les McCann (A3, B1, B3), Cole Porter (B2) 1 LP, standard sleeve Original analog Master tape : YES Heavy Press : 180g Record color: black Speed : 33 RPM Size : 12'’ Stereo Studio Record Press : Pallas Label : Speakers Corner Original Label : Atlantic Recorded on July 22–24, 1968 at Atlantic Studios, New York City and on November 20, 1968 at RCA Studios, New York City Engineered by Adrian Barber Produced by Joel Dorn Photography by Lee Tanner Originally released in 1969 Reissued in 2025 Tracks : Side A Doin' That Thing With These Hands Burnin' Coal Side B Benjamin Love For Sale Roberta Reviews : «One of Les McCann's greatest albums, Much Les encapsulates much of what McCann did best in his early years, while adding a few novel embellishments -- like a string section and Latin percussionists -- that enhance his core sound. The results are winning, likable, and consistently engaging, making for an underrated classic. McCann is joined on every cut by his trio of the time, bassist Leroy Vinnegar (who contributes "Doin' That Thing") and drummer Donald Dean, who offers solid, laid-back support. However, it's actually the string section that provides the dominant flavor of McCann's accompaniment; of the six tracks, they appear on all three slow songs, plus -- in an offbeat touch -- the laid-back soul-jazz of "Doin' That Thing," giving it an almost movie soundtrack feel. Fortunately, the album isn't drenched in sentimental glop; the strings are always employed tastefully to give the music a fuller sound and to provide counterpoint to McCann's economical soloing on the ballads. McCann makes an unspectacular but warmly ingratiating crooner on "With These Hands," his lone vocal number here, which became something of a hit. Elsewhere, he transforms Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" into one of his signature funky soul-jazz grooves, and returns to his gospel roots on the soulful, exuberant "Burnin' Coal," where he works a simple but infectious beat punctuated by handclaps and shouts. So the program is nicely varied, and the richer, more expanded arrangements serve to highlight -- not obscure -- the McCann trio's command of the groove. That's what makes Much Les such an enjoyable, essential listen.» AllMusic Review by Steve Huey Ratings : AllMusic : 5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.43 / 5
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