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ROSCO GORDON:
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (STONYPLAIN)
When
Rosco Gordon’s 'Memphis Tennessee' was released on
Stony Plain Records, a very few suspected it would be his musical
epitaph--albeit a wonderfully rich one. It's gloriously revealing
of his legacy--both to longtime admirers and acolytes. Released a
couple years before his passing in 2002, it’s a remarkable
document that encapsulates the crucial role Rosco Gordon
played in unleashing a sound that would set the music world on its
ears back in the 50’s. Hundreds of artists entered
Sam Phillips'
Memphis Recording Studio, |
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But only a handful
had that magic touch that twigged Phillips' intuitive antennae.
Sam Phillips started
to record
Rosco Gordon in 1952. A
charismatic showman, his songs were crammed with high-spirited
good-times and often slightly demented lyrics: a prelude to
Little Richard's. Several of Rosco Gordon's early to mid-period durables
get slightly-modernized, but totally valid treatments, such as the
scrumptious 'Cheese and Crackers', the hypnotic 'Just A
Little Bit'. Not
surprisingly, up-tempo groove excursions predominate, such as the
rumba-suffused 'Sit Right Here', the sax-saturated New
Orleans-flavored 'Bad Dream'. You also gotta love 'Now You’re
Gone'; a
melodically-rich, mellow helping of 50’s-style Doo-Wop. In an extensive interview at the CD's conclusion, Rosco confers the ultimate compliment to the backup crew of
Duke Robillard, Doug James and
'Sax' Gordon Beadle, and Matt McCabe. When it comes to comebacks,
'Memphis Tennessee' ranks in my all-time Top 3.
MP3
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Memphis Tennessee |
Bad Dream | |
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AMOS GARRETT:
ACOUSTIC ALBUM (STONY PLAIN RECORDS)
'Acoustic Album' is Amos Garrett's first acoustic
recording in 25 years, a long wait, but well worth the patience.
It's a quilt work of time-tested melodies that brim with wry
good-natured lyrics. With a resume that is beyond extensive (Maria
Muldaur,
Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Doug
Sahm, etc.), Garrett is now returning to his first love:
old-fashioned finger picking on the six and twelve strings. It's
warming that a couple of Hoagy Carmichael durables are
featured, including 'Small Fry' and 'Hong Kong Blues'. |
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'Sam's Song' is another delightful nugget from the past
that featured Bing and Gary Crosby from the early fifties. Mandolinist
Dave Wilkie plays the Gary part, while Garrett's
mellifluous crooning imparts his debt to Der Bingle.
Old friends like Chris Whiteley, Ken Whiteley,
Bucky Berger and Victor Bateman contribute to
the prevailing air of conviviality and community. The talented
Whiteley Brothers wrote 3 of the originals, including
Ken's semi-autobiographical 'Always Got Your
Hands On That Guitar'. There's 'Grasshoppers On My Pillow':
a
Huddie Leadbetter chestnut also featured on Garrett's
'Off The Floor Live' album from 1996. Other titles act
as a perfect opening credits for the fun and good times that
follow, such as 'Some Musician Was To Blame', 'She
Don't Go Nowhere', and 'Perfume and Tobacco'.
MP3 -
Perfume and Tobacco | |
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