O.V. Wright, Let’s Straighten It Out | COVERS

In the 18^th edition of COVERS (2025), O.V. Wright delivers a compelling rendition of “Let’s Straighten It Out,” originally performed by Latimore.   

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers.  It is open to established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 18^th  edition of COVERS (2025), O.V. Wright delivers a compelling rendition of “Let’s Straighten It Out”, originally performed by Latimore.

“Sit yourself down, girl, and talk to me / Tell me what’s on your mind.” Ooh-wee! It’s giving a heart-to-heart talk! Sadly, the life of Tennessee blues and R&B musician O.V. Wright (1939 – 1981) was cut short. He died from a heart attack at just 41 years old 😢.  However, Wright charted a trio of songs on the pop charts and left behind some enduring, worthwhile musical gems.  One such gem was a Latimore (1939 – ) cover, “Let’s Straighten It Out”. “Let’s Straighten It Out” was the fifth track from The Bottom Line, released in 1978. In the first verse, he continues, conversing with her, “Don’t keep on telling me everything’s okay / ‘Cause if you were then you wouldn’t be crying.” True, true, true! 

“Let’s Straighten It Out” shines from the beginning.  The drum groove anchors, establishing the soulful aesthetic.   The piano is the key instrument – the star of the show.  It rocks, in a bluesy sort of way, delivering stellar comping, riffs, and a well-rounded solo.  The rhythm section is locked in – in the pocket, y’all!  Upping the ante on this joint instrumentally is the orchestra.  Lush strings never grow stale.  Neither do crisply articulated, biting brass, nor more legato woodwinds (the oboe during the chorus is awe-inspiring).  The riffs riff hard from the instrumentalists.  But do you know who goes equally hard, if not harder? O.V. Wright, of course! Wright sings with authenticity, ample personality, and expression.  His distinct, southern pipes ‘eat’ from the first note that he sings. The first verse is sweet, while he lets loose even more in the second. “For the last five nights, honey, when we went to bed  / Whoa, I could tell something just wasn’t right,” he sings, concluding, “When you turn your back to me and cover your head / Or you didn’t even say goodnight.” Oh, snap!  His bread is its most buttery in the chorus, where he tells his baby, “Let’s straighten it out, baby / Let’s straighten it out / We can always straighten it out / You know we can straighten it out.” Nothing to straighten out about “Let’s Straighten Out” the song.  O.V. Wright deserved far more recognition. This song right here is nothing short of da bomb dot com!