Compare Sooner or Later

Like several of 's early albums, this 1968 effort would ultimately sound less impressive than it did at the time, simply because the original versions of the ten songs covered would become much more accessible. The material selected did testify to his good taste, but also stuck to the tried-and-true, including classics like 's and The title track, a slow piano tune, is about the least-familiar number on a program that's essentially revamped classic and still rather recent electric (and largely Chicago) classics with a very slightly more - and -oriented groove. Still, it's a lean and respectably hard-hitting set, comfortably integrating piano and (on occasion) ' saxes into the arrangements. ~ Richie Unterberger