Taylor's "Disco Lady" made all the kitschy compilations of '70s dance music, and he was probably glad to get the recognition. But the late soul hitmaker was really in his element when he was preaching over a smoldering soul groove or yearning and pleading on a slow blues.
This too-brief snapshot of a live appearance in Los Angeles back in 1972 captures the charismatic Taylor at the height of his powers. As the set's liner notes point out, his band isn't always in sync and the P.A. system isn't always cooperative, but that hardly matters. When he struts his way through "Who's Making Love" or steadily builds the tension on a nine-minute "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone," the ecstatic, sex-soaked vibe he conjures is so powerful you can almost smell his sweat.
