LITTLE BOYS BLUE
BAD LOVE
JAXON RECORDS
BAD LOVE–SHE PUT ME DOWN–TREAT ME LIKE YOU USED TO DO–DEATH LETTER BLUES–FORGET THESE BLUES–HOWLING AT YOUR DOOR–CAJUN GIRL–YOU AND I–GO BACK HOME–AIN’T NO USE IN CRYING–CAN’T BE SATISFIED
Little Boys Blue were formed back in 1993, by lead vocalist and harp man J. D. Taylor, and guitarist Steve Patterson. They have played all the major festivals, and finished third in the 1997 IBC. Their third album, recorded in Jackson, TN, for Jimmy Exum’s Jaxon label, is entitled “Bad Love,” a cool collection of nine originals and two covers that combine blues, Sun rockabilly, soul, and good ole roots-rock. Fans, if you like your blues fueled by solid harp and killer guitar, it just don’t get much better than this!
The party starts with the minor-key title tune, as J. D. laments that “two and two is four, but somethin’ just don’t add up,” as he knows his lover is two-timin’ him. A sweet horn section punctuates “why don’t you Treat Me Like You Used To Do,” and shows up again on the soulful strut of “You And I.” Both of these have that good ole Delbert feel to them. The covers are mighty impressive, too. Known for their incendiary live shows, the fellows present a great read of Son House’s “Death Letter Blues,” as J. D.’s harp and Steve’s slide add the deep feeling to those lyrics of “takin’ that girl down to the burying ground.” And, the set closes with one of Muddy’s classics, as they give a country-blues feel to “Can’t Be Satisfied,” differing somewhat in this version thanks to drummer Mark Brooks driving a freight train beat throughout.
We had two favorites, too. A swingin’ shuffle with fine B-3 from Dave Thomas has J. D. singing that he did all he could do to please his woman, but, still, “She Put Me Down.” And, the fellows break it on down with some deep, pulsating slow blues in the form of “Ain’t No Use In Crying,” where J. D. confronts his cheatin’ lover. This one has all the players giving impeccable solos with cool call-and-response interplay.
Little Boys Blue are another great reason why the South is sho’ nuff the sweet homeland of the blues. We had a lot of fun listening to “Bad Love,” and we know the fans will, too! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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