by Alex Henderson
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 1970s-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.