Bob Margolin review…January 7, 2016…

BOB MARGOLIN

MY ROAD

STEADY ROLLIN’/VIZZTONE VT-SRR 002

MY WHOLE LIFE–MORE AND MORE–I SHALL PREVAIL–GOODNIGHT–UNDERSTANDING HEART–LOW LIFE BLUES–BYE BYE BABY–YOUNG AND OLD BLUES–ASK ME NO QUESTIONS–FEELIN’ RIGHT TONIGHT–DEVIL’S DAUGHTER–HEAVEN MISSISSIPPI

We’ve been friends with steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin for several years now.  He was Muddy’s rhythm man during the mid-Seventies, and is featured on all those classic Blue Sky albums with Johnny Winter.  Since Muddy’s passing in 1983, Bob has carved out a very successful career as a bandleader in his own right.  A founding partner of Vizztone Records, his latest set is entitled “My Road,” and it’s a trip thru his musical roots that includes some interesting songs and arrangements that take a turn from his previous outings.

He’s joined by Tad Walters on harp and vocals, and Chuck Cotton on drums and vocals.  Bob goes into full-on “crooner” mode 0n the romantic love story that is his original, “More And More, our love has grown so strong.”  He and Chuck break down Nappy Brown’s “Bye Bye Baby” into its core elements, turning it into a doo-wop, street corner serenade, backed only by Tad’s harp.

There’s plenty of red-hot blues, too.  Check out the shufflin’ boogie of “I’m Feelin’ Right tonight,” and the deep tone of giving in to one’s vices and weaknesses, “dancing with the Devil’s Daughter.”

Bob always mixes in a bit of humor into his blues, too.  Check out the leadoff cut, which serves as a good autobiography of his fifty years on the bandstand.  Whether playing for six or six thousand, he realizes that “My Whole Life led up to this!  It also features that tricky, dead-stop ending, much like Muddy’s “She’s So Pretty.”  Another one of Bob’s originals takes a look at aging and one’s perception of it.  “Young And Old Blues” teaches us a jumpin’ lesson–“it depends on which side you look from, and the truth can sure be cold!”

Our favorite closed the set.  The residents of “Heaven Mississippi” are the spirits of all the greats, who come to Bob in a dream.  His slide wails like that proverbial hellhound that accompanies “Robert Johnson and the Devil, still walkin’ side by side!”

With “My Road,” Bob Margolin lets us know how fortunate he’s been to be able to do what he loves for half a century.  For us, we’d just like to say “Thank you, Bob, for a lifetime of great blues!”  Until next time….Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

Karen Lovely review…January 4, 2016…

KAREN LOVELY

TEN MILES OF BAD ROAD

KOKAKO RECORDS

LOW ROAD–COMPANY GRAVEYARD–A BETTER PLACE–IGNORANCE (IT AIN’T BLISS)–CROSS THE WATER–TEN MILES OF BAD ROAD–I WANT TO LOVE YOU–YOU STOLE MY HEART–ALWAYS LOVE YOU–BLUES VALENTINE–SAVE ME–I’M OVER GOODBYE–FRANK THE SPANK

Karen Lovely is a fantastic blues singer from the Portland, OR, area.  She draws from the classic sounds of Ma Rainey and combines it with the power and punch of Janis Joplin to create a sound as unique as she is.  Karen has just released “Ten Miles Of Bad Road” on the Kokako label, and has a stellar cast of award-winning musicians to back her up, including Tony Braunagel on drums, (who is also the set’s producer), Johnny Lee Schell and Alan Mirikitani on guitar, Reggie McBride and Hutch Hutchinson on bass, Jim Pugh on the keys, and Kim Wilson on harp.

Karen has one of those sultry, soulful deliveries, and on these cuts she takes a look at love and relationships from all possible angles.  One exception to this was the most excellent “I ain’t gonna die in a Company Graveyard,” set over that driving, freight train, “endless boogie” beat.

The set kicks off with Karen finding out that “sometime after midnight, my baby took the Low Road,” and “didn’t leave me with nothin’ but these red bloodshot eyes!”  Later, she discovers all too painfully that “Ignorance (It Ain’t Bliss),” when the inevitable happens and she finds out he’s been cheatin’, but she still “craves your honey lies, so sweet!”

The title cut is a horn-fueled look at that “smooth talker” who’s really nothing but “Ten Miles Of Bad Road!”  She looks at things thru the eyes of “the other woman” with the poignant, heartfelt, “I’m Over Goodbye,” as “stolen moments are all I get.”  And, she pays tribute to the homeless and destitute on a minor-key tale of those who seek a dry doorway on a rainy night, “Save Me.”

Our favorite closed the set, and it’s a stone rocker.  Johnny Lee Schell’s guitar lines and Jim Pugh’s barrelhouse piano are shaken and stirred by Kim Wilson’s harp on the dance-floor-burnin’ tale of “just one more shot of Frank The Spank!”

Karen Lovely is an artist who always makes the blues unique and special.  From the scorned lover to the other woman to the barroom ballbuster, she brings it all home with “Ten Miles Of Bad Road!”    Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.

A sad beginning to 2016…

To all the members of our extended Blues community family:

We received the sobering news late last night that Nashville blues legend Marion James had passed away.  Marion’s Excello single, “That’s My Man,” brought her national notoriety and was featured on the compilation, “Night Train To Nashville 2,” the second installment of the “Night Train” CD’s from June, 2005,  put together by the Country Music Hall Of Fame in honor of the “Night Train” exhibit at the Hall during that time.  Marion most recently worked with the fine folks at EllerSoul Records, with her PR handled by Frank Roszak.  Marion will be missed by all of us here in Middle Tennessee as well as all her fans everywhere.  She was a tireless worker for the annual Musicians’ Reunion, a benefit to raise funds for the pioneers of Nashville blues and R & B to help them with medical expenses.

A gofundme page has been set up to raise funds to cover Marion’s funeral expenses, and the exact details are spelled out on the Facebook page of Bette Horton.  Please visit Bette’s page at Facebook.com if you would like to contribute.

 

Thanks

 

Sheryl and Don Crow