Though not essential and not as strong as
Back to Back,
Too Much Pain was a welcome addition to
Milton's catalog.
Milton never claimed to be a purist, and the album illustrates his effectiveness as both a bluesman and a soul shouter. Highlights of this likable date range from the smooth '70s-ish uptown soul of "The Woman I Love" (which wouldn't have been inappropriate on a
Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes album) to "So Much Pain," "Count the Days," and
Denise LaSalle's amusing "Your Wife Is Cheating on Us." If you're into clever double entendres, get into "Runway," a Stax-ish soul gem that finds
Milton equating a cheating lover with an airport runway in that everyone is landing on her. ~ Alex Henderson