Jr. Walker & The All Stars - Moody Jr. (1971)

A less intense Junior Walker still makes splendid music on a collection of updates salted with some new sides. The sax man remakes "Way Back Home," originally done by the Crusaders; Gladys Knight and Johnny Bristol wrote lyrics for Wilton Felder's composition: Walker's version did a respectable number 24 R&B, and number 52 Pop. "Walk in the Night," with its stalking beat and diverse rhythms, scaled to number ten R&B and number 46 Pop, his last substantial release on Motown. The psychedelic influenced "Groove Thang" went to number 46 R&B, but missed the bus to the Pop chart, despite a tight groove, and tough, rough-neck runs from Junior over a def track. Walker's sax measures up to the vocals on the original versions of "I Don't Want to Do Wrong," popularized by Gladys Knight & the Pips, and the Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye."