Nancy Wilson - Hurt So Bad (1969/2018)

Although Hurt So Bad pairs Nancy Wilson with a hodgepodge of arrangers including Jimmy Jones, Phil Wright, Billy May, and Oliver Nelson, the album is a surprisingly cohesive listen, boasting a soulful, vibrant sound inspired by mainstream pop and R&B. Pop radio also contributes much of the album's material, which spans from a subtly funky rendition of "Willie and Laura Mae Jones" to a poignant "You're All I Need to Get By" to a dynamic "Spinning Wheel." Still, while Wilson fully invests herself in the songs, she fails to claim them for her own, and the end result is a collection that underscores her versatility but adds little else to her legacy.