“Shoes” (1970) – Brook Benton * Written by Don Covay and George Soule * Produced by Arif Mardin * 45: “Shoes” / “Let Me Fix It” * LP: Story Teller * Produced by Arif Mardin * Label: Cotillion
Slinky, forgotten single recorded with Memphis studio aces the Dixie Flyers in which the singer has a hard time saying goodbye with his “shoes” that “keep walking back.” In retrospect, with the knowledge that it would be Benton’s second to last charting hit, it seems to function as a post-“Rainy Night in Georgia” encore. Listen to “Shoes” all the way to the fadeout so you can hear the harps sprinkle haunted, lovesick stardust. The flipside is a steamy give-and-take with the Sweet Inspirations called “Let Me Fix It,” for which Benton got full writing credit.