DAVE KELLER
RIGHT BACK ATCHA
TASTEE-TONE RECORDS TT-3043
IT’S TIME YOU MADE UP YOUR MIND–2 AM TALKS–RIGHT BACK ATCHA–DEEPER THAN THE EYE CAN SEE–FOREVER SUMMER–SLOW TRAIN–CIRCLES–SHE’S JUST KATIE–URGENT (I’LL GIVE IT ALL)–WHAT’S IT GONNA TAKE?–WILLING TO LEARN–YOU MAKE IT EASY
For those who think that classic soul music is a thing of the past, fortunately there’s Dave Keller. We’ve been fans of Dave since his 2011 release, “Where I’m Coming From,” with a great read of Clarence Carter’s “Too Weak To Fight.” Well, Dave is back and in superb form with his latest, “Right Back Atcha.” This time around, he kept the home-court advantage, recording this set in his home state of Vermont, with his regular band. Dave’s on guitar and vocals, with Ira Freidman on keys, Gary Lotspeich on bass, and Brett Hoffman on drums. To spice things up, the Mo’ Sax Horns appear throughout, with a string section on three cuts. All but one of the twelve cuts were written or co-written by Dave, and most everything herein deals with things he’s seen or experienced in his own life. And, like the soul classics, these songs speak the truth.
Leading off is the lone cover, Willie Clayton’s “It’s Time You Made Up Your Mind, and set your other man free!” It is set over a killer, funky arrangement, pulsed by the keys and horns. He and a potential lover have a playful give-and-take on each other’s virtues in “Right Back Atcha,” while those same lovers reach the Crossroads, wondering “What’s It Gonna Take” to co-exist!
We had two favorites, too. A scratchin’, Jimmy Nolen-inspired riff kicks off those “2 AM Talks, to save this love we got,” before Dave ramps up the heat mid-song with a furious solo. And, if you grew up in the South, as did we, you’ll feel a big Delbert influence on the tale of two lovers trying to recapture that feeling of youthful first love on the wistful, breezy, “Forever Summer.”
That passionate voice, which many have compared to Otis Redding-meets Van Morrison., carries the torch for vintage soul on “Right Back Atcha.” This one has something for every fan to enjoy! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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