It’s no surprise that Sweet Inspiration, recorded in 1989, has remained unreleased until now. The soulful southern voice is still there and the band, which features Spooner Oldham on keyboards, is clearly accomplished. But the material is weak and covers of the Oldham-Penn title track and a steel drum-driven “Let It Rain” far outshine the eight characterless Bramlett originals.

Worse, the horrible ’80s-style production renders much of the record, and the drums in particular, nearly unlistenable.