***1/2 Joe Tex

THE VERY BEST OF JOE TEX

(Rhino)

Another of the label's superb soul reissue sets. For older fans, a reminder of Tex's mastery of loverman singing in all its glories, whether he's swooping to a breath-stealing high falsetto in "Hold What You've Got" or sinking down to a deep-knee-bend grind in "I Gotcha." For those just exploring the soul pantheon, Tex is the way to head after you've heard the essential recordings of Otis Redding and Sam and Dave. It's classic chitlin-circuit soul smoothness -- all grits and grease and glory.

-- Ted Drozdowski