MICHELE D’AMOUR
AND THE LOVE DEALERS
HEART OF MEMPHIS
BLUESKITTY RECORDS
ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT–DIRTY POOL–COME ON OVER–CRADLE TO THE HEARSE–NO TIME–HEART OF MEMPHIS–MEMPHIS SOUL STEW–STRANGE ANGELS
Michele D’Amour grew up in the Seattle region, and she and her band, The Love Dealers, have four releases already under their belt. Back in January, they made the trek to Memphis for the IBC, and were so taken in by the ambience and history of the Bluff City that they headed straight to Royal Studios and producer Boo Mitchell to lay down what would become their fifth release, “Heart Of Memphis.” Seven originals and one sho’ nuff funky cover make this one a solid package, indeed!
Michele’s got that big, bold voice, and The Love Dealers have a cool rhythm and horn section, laying down a serious groove, no matter the song. Leading off is the Santana-by-way-of-Peter Green vibe of “Another Sleepless Night, my baby’s gone away!” Michele gets into her best come-hither lines to coax a lover to “Come On Over, I need some relief,” in this smoldering, sexy, strutter. Our heroine later finds herself down at the Crossroads in “Cradle To The Hearse,” where “nothin’s so bad it can’t get worse!” This one has some fierce, booty-kickin’ sax from Noel Barnes. Everybody gets funky on a cool take of one of STAX’s most iconic instrumentals, “Memphis Soul Stew,” and they close out with our favorite. Michele plays the blues preacher to the hilt as she lays out a bittersweet story of playing in bars for the lovers, the broken, the homeless, and those who just want to drink their troubles away over a musical backdrop. It’s a church-ified tale of “Strange Angels,” where “we’re all community here,” unlikely shepherds to a culturally-diverse flock.
Michele D’Amour And The Love Dealers are all fantastic musicians in their own right. When you add the soul, blues, and overall vibe of Memphis and the Royal Studios into the mix, “Heart Of Memphis” becomes a powerful set, indeed!!! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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