ALBERT CUMMINGS
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
BLIND PIG RECORDS BPCD 5166
NO DOUBT–I FOUND YOU–UP YOUR SLEEVE–MOVIN’ ON–SO STRONG–FINALLY IN LOVE–MAKE UP YOUR MIND–MEATLOCKER–I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU–OLD DOG–STAY AWAY FROM MY SISTER
For his latest set, which also marks his return to Blind Pig Records, blues-rock Stratocaster blaster Albert Cummings looks at love, life, and relationships thru his own eyes, as well as thru the eyes of old dogs, little birds, and protective siblings. It all comes together in the twelve original cuts that comprise “Someone Like You.” This set was produced by David Z, and a stellar cast of backing musicians includes Mike Finnigan on keys, Tony Braunagel on drums, Reggie McBride on bass, and Jimmy Vivino guesting on guitar on three cuts.
The rock-fest kicks off with Albert’s tale of a lover doin’ a little midnite creepin’. And, “when there’s a doubt, there’s No Doubt” what’s going down! Another lover who thinks she’s foolin’ Albert finds out “I know what you got Up Your Sleeve” with his Strat blazin’ on this uptempo groover. He shows a “ballad” side with the title cut, featuring Jimmy Vivino on guitar, and a cut that deals with things that hold a relationship together, “what makes us So Strong.”
The longer this set goes, the harder Albert rocks it, leading to our three favorites. That “Old Dog” we alluded to earlier wonders aloud “how I ever dug up a bone like you!” This one rocks from the git-go as does the set-closer, with that protective brother warning a bad-news suitor to “Stay Away From My Sister.” This one has Mike really laying down some fine roadhouse piano, over Albert’s burnin’ fretwork. Our other favorite is seven minutes of slow-blues bliss, as Albert and Jimmy Vivino trade licks on the sly tale of that “Little Bird” that tells everything she knows, consequences be damned!
Just like the houses that master carpenter Albert Cummings builds from the ground up, his blues are built to last. Add to that the fact that on “Someone Like You,” all the cuts were virtually done in one take, showing why Albert loves the spontaneity of his music! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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