THE REVEREND SHAWN AMOS
LOVES YOU
PUT TOGETHER RECORDS
DAYS OF DEPRESSION (WITH THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA)–BRAND NEW MAN–BOOGIE (WITH MISSY ANDERSEN)–BROTHER’S KEEPER–YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME (WHEN I GET HOME)–JOLIET BOUND–WILL YOU BE MINE–THE OUTLAW–BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (WITH MINDI ABAIR)–HOLLYWOOD BLUES–PUT TOGETHER–LAST DAY I’M LOVING YOU
Shawn Amos, indeed an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, is also the son of Wally Amos (he of Famous Amos cookie fame), and singer Shir-Lee May Ellis. He’s also one of the premier artists in contemporary blues today. His latest release, “The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You,” is as eclectic and diverse as it is entertaining. There are twelve cuts, ten of them originals, and the set is produced by Mindi Abair, without a doubt the “sax-iest” woman on the planet!
Shawn grew up in the Seventies, surrounded by the Sunset Strip scene, good, bad, and ugly as it may have been. Many of the sounds on this album were borne of that era, and Shawn mixes it all together with his unique looks at the blues.
Kicking off is “Days Of Depression,” where Shawn, aided by the Blind Boys Of Alabama, takes a gospel trip down to the pre-WWII deep South, longing to “go where the wind blows” and “go with the Lord.” Things take a 180-degree turn with the next cut, a slab of JB’s-inspired funk, “Baby gonna make me a Brand New Man.” That funky vein resurfaces a bit later as Shawn extolls the virtues of a well-proportioned lady, who is sho’ nuff “Put Together!” Shawn and Missey Andersen give in to their carnal desires, too, over the infectious beat of “Boogie.”
Shawn calls out a no-good lover over the stomping beat of “You’re Gonna Miss Me (When I Get Home), and Mindi adds her sax to a song she and Shawn co-wrote, about life on the “other side of Tinsel Town,” “Hollywood Blues.”
We had two favorites, too. Shawn and Mindi do a sweet duet on “Bright Lights, Big City,” his harp and her sax blowing in sweet accord. And, Shawn makes a call for peace, wanting to “chase hate with love” in the poignant “Be My Brother’s Keeper.”
“The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You,” and offers up twelve good reasons why on this most excellent set! Until next time..Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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