Even music lovers who never took up an instrument can appreciate why the late Delaney Bramlett was hailed a "musician's musician." Just listen past Sweet Inspiration's '80s-styled production and you can hear how he has influenced the soft bluesy touches of JJ Cale and the flowing jams of Duane Allman. Bramlett even taught George Harrison how to play slide guitar. Sweet Inspiration was recorded in 1989 but wasn't released until 2002. The album opens with the title track which was penned by Spooner Oldham who plays keys throughout, and although the sounds of his synthesizers haven't aged any better than a Thompson Twins record, the rootsy contrast of Bramlett's vintage guitar along with the backing gospel choir equalizes the overall feel. One thing that has aged remarkably well is Bramlett's voice. Where his singing on those late '60s and early '70s Delaney & Bonnie recordings sound like a young man channeling an old soul (not unlike Spencer Davis- era Steve Winwood), by 1989 his honed and throaty inflections could belt out as soulfully as a Muscle Shoals veteran, especially on songs like "Let It Rain" (co-written by Eric Clapton) and more noticeably on the aptly titled "Funky."