RANDY MCALLISTER
SPITBALL, SHATTER, AND PATCH
REACTION RECORDS
RELAX WATCH THE CRASH–THE LOUDEST CHICKEN–MY DRAWL CAUSED IT ALL–KINGSLAND–ROLLING UP MY SLEEVES–STRAIGHT UP TRUCKIN–THE SONG THAT WRITES ITSELF–PACTOLA–LAID BACK JACK–THE GIRL’S IN LOVE (WITH HERSELF)
East Texas spitfire Randy McAllister started out writing more traditional blues songs, but, after some 30 years in this bidness, he’s stretched out to incorporate more soul, roots, gospel, Americana, Muscle Shoals, and Texas boogie-woogie. All of this and more is on display on his latest set, “Spitball, Shatter, And Patch.” The title is a loose translation of a good lesson in life, where you “make, break, and repair” things all throughout one’s life.
Randy leads off with a dobro-licious tale of “takin’ it easy” in life, with “Relax Watch The Crash.” This one features Brandon Hudspeth on guitar, and Heather Newman on backing vocals as well as the ultra-cool tuba-as-bass from Bill Mckemy. Randy blows some mean harp on the story of a crazy lover that’s gotta go, in the frenetic, slide-filled “Loudest Chicken in the henhouse!” Brandon’s guitar lines give “Straight Up Truckin’, walkin’ with a purpose,” a good ole Southern soul vibe, while Heather joins the fun on the laid-back funk of our hero looking to head south, needing a ride “down to Lake Pactola!” You can’t deny the groove in Brandon’s slide on this one, too! (Think Warren Haynes!).
We had two favorites. We could all learn a few things from “Laid Back Jack,” a country-blues tune about not judging or putting down folks, and trying to find the good in everyone. Randy’s harp adds to the “take it slow” groove of this one. Heather’s third appearance as backing vocalist is on a classic case of misinformation between lovers, because, as us Southern guys know, sometimes, “My Drawl Caused It All!”
With “Spitball, Shatter, And Patch,” Randy McAllister strikes a balance between blues and soul, to give us all a good lesson in putting–and keeping–things together, and thus, has created one of the most personal and powerful albums of his career! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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