Clifford Coulter was a soul-jazz and blues pianist who gradually moved more into urban R&B. His early recordings for the ABC label in the early '70s were full of a bright, sweet sound and were recommended listening for anybody interested in the funkier side of soul-jazz.

Produced by none other than Bill Withers, is a set of funky soul. Coulter's sound, while contemporary, is rooted in the soul balladry of an earlier time. His songwriting is top-notch and his session players, who include Withers, Russ Kunkel, Ronnie Beck, Jerry Perez, and others, are empathetic on tunes like the mellow grooving opener, "Don't Wanna See You Cry," and "Magic Carpet Ride" (not that one). On ballads such as "Nothing in the World Is Free," Coulter's own singing wrenches emotion out of a slick soul tune and puts it in the listener's breadbasket.

A fine a specimen of urban soul.