BRIAN LANGLINAIS
RIGHT HAND ROAD
PATOUTVILLE RECORDS
YOU CAN’T SAY I DIDN’T LOVE YOU–DON’T LET THE GREEN GRASS FOOL YOU–RIGHT HAND ROAD–LOUISIANA LOVE–EVERY DAY WILL BE LIKE A HOLIDAY–ONE DESIRE–DON’T GO NO FURTHER–TUCUMCARI TONIGHT–IT’S THE WHISKEY THAT EASES THE PAIN–OUR LOVE IS SLIPPING AWAY
The Gulf Coast region stretches east-to-west along I-10, and musicians there play a little bit of everything—blues, country, soul, jazz, New Orleans-style, and anything else you can name. If you gig in that area that is full of resort spots and vacation destinations, it’s your job to keep the customers happy and drinking, and play stuff they’re familiar with! Guys like Brian Langlinais have been doing it for years, and is well-versed in everything from Stax to Toussaint to Pickett to Delbert, and you get that feeling of good ole Southern soul and blues with his latest release from Patoutville Records, “Right Hand Road.” Brian and D. L. (Dave) Duncan are the producers, and some of this region’s best-known players are along for the ride. They include folks such as Steve Conn, James Pennebaker, Jonell Mosser, Patterson Barrett, and, even ol’ “Harmonica Lewinsky” himself, the aforementioned Mr. Duncan on a couple of cuts.
Brian plays the part of the “homegrown fool” who never saw the break-up coming in the bittersweetly-soulful leadoff cut, “You Can’t Say I Didn’t Love You,” with a fine backing from The Inglewood Horns. The second-line is the thing in the molasses-sweet ode to “walkin’ hand-in-hand down by the Ponchartrain,” “Louisiana Love.” This one features James on lap steel and Jonell as the duet voice. Charlene Howard is the duet vocal and Steve Conn is all over the 88’s in the roadhouse boogie of a man who’s “got them Highway 40 blues” and is headin’ down to “Tucumcari Tonight!”
We had three favorites, too. It wouldn’t be a Gulf Coast party without a Pickett tune, and Brian does a fine job on “Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You,” punctuated by a unique re-working of the bass line and squeeze-box (!) from Steve Conn. Both the title cut and the set-closing “Our Love Is Slipping Away” are all-acoustic affairs that have Mr. Duncan on Resonator and Patterson on mandolin. Brian’s vocals make both of ’em as pure as a Mason jar of Delta ‘shine!
Honky-tonkin? It’s safe to say that Brian Langlinais has done him some. His efforts pay off big-time with the great songs along the “Right Hand Road!” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
donandsherylsbluesblog 