Ted Taylor - Be Ever Wonderful / That's Life I Guess

Year Released: 1967
Label: Duke Records
Genre: Soul / Deep Soul / Blues

Description:
“Be Ever Wonderful” by Ted Taylor is a shimmering example of deep Southern soul, showcasing Taylor’s incredible vocal range and emotive delivery. The track opens with smooth strings and a restrained rhythm section, allowing Taylor’s heartfelt falsetto and gospel-influenced inflections to shine. Lyrically, it’s a tender message of devotion, framed with the melancholy and optimism that define much of his work.

The B-side, “That’s Life I Guess,” takes a more reflective approach, a slow, bluesy soul ballad that highlights Taylor’s narrative depth and command of phrasing. Though never a major commercial hit, both sides have become collector favorites and are frequently sampled in modern soul and hip-hop tracks for their rich, organic instrumentation and timeless vocal phrasing.