BART WALKER
WAITING ON DAYLIGHT
RUF RECORDS 1185
IT’S ALL GOOD–BLACK CLOUDS–TOOK IT LIKE A MAN–GIRL YOU BAD–GOTTA BE YOU–WAITING ON DAYLIGHT–HAPPY–HIPSHAKE IT–MARY AND ME–99%–WHIPPIN’ POST
Bart Walker is the consummate hard-working young bluesman. Gigging wherever and whenever he and his band had the chance, he has come up thru the ranks, and has parlayed recent successes in the IBC’s into his Ruf Records debut, “Waiting On Daylight.” Bart co-wrote seven of the originals herein, showing a maturity far beyond his years. Joining Bart, who handles the guitar and vocal duties, are Dave Smith on bass, Steve Potts on drums, and Rick Steff and Dave Cohen on keys. Add to that the magic touch of producer Jim Gaines, and this is, indeed, a very impressive debut!
The party starts with the good-time slide of “It’s All Good,” the tale of two lovers who don’t have a lot of material things, but they do have each other. “Gotta Be You” smokes with the roadhouse swagger you’d expect from a song written by Bart and Gary Nicholson. “Happy” is a chugging slab of blues-rock with a sweet, lengthy solo at the bridge that Bart uses as an autobiographical song to let us all know that he’s “not high on nothin’ these days,” just content to “play my guitar in every little town.” “99%” uses a snarling lead guitar to take a hard look at corporate greed and “takin’ a stand,” while Bart’s undeniable love for the Allman Brothers manifests itself in a slowed, jazzy read of “Whippin’ Post” to close the set.
We had two favorites, too. The title cut is Bart’s ode to a lover, begging her for “one more second chance.” And, Bart sounds like J. B. Hutto reincarnated with his wild, fiery slide leads in the Chicago boogie of “Hipshake It!”
Anyone concerned about where the blues is heading in the future need only to heed the words of Mr. Bart Walker and “Waiting On Daylight.” It’s a rock-solid guarantee that the blues is in some mighty capable hands! Until next time….Sheryl and Don Crow
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