Home of the Live Music Calendar Follow STLBlues on Twitter Follow STLBlues on Facebook Home of the Live Music Calendar Live Music Is Better, Book It Here!! Live music is better, book yours now!

'Cornbread'By Cornbread

John Kay – Heretics & Privateers
John Kay – Heretics & Privateers
{2004 | Black Leather Music / Rainman}

Kay steps out from the shadows of Steppenwolf with his latest solo effort, Heretics & Privateers. Heretic & Privateers is a re-release, this time with 16 songs, of which the last four are acoustic un-plugged versions of previous tracks.

Acoustic and slide guitar on some songs, electric guitar on other songs, some harmonica and/or harp, country-raspy vocals and all original tracks make this a very good blues recording with a gritty flavor of southern blues. The songs themselves don't rhyme, seldom repeat but do have a meaning or message, I can imagine the lyrics came straight from Kay's heart while traveling and living life.

My favorite songs:

Track 4 - Dodging Bullets - had harmonica and steady blues beat.

Track 5 - She’s Got The Goods - is consistent with the other songs, with a piano backing John's vocals.

Track 6 - For The Women In My Life - is not really a blues song but takes us into a country/folk realm. I liked it, I am sure this got some radio play.

Track 8 - I Will Not Be Denied - follows the country sound as before, with an organ – yes that's I said an organ and it sounds good. Halfway through the song we get a hint of piano and the vocals get down and grittier.

Track 9 - Endless Commercial - reeks of electric blues guitar riffs – and I like that smell, yea I like it funky y'all. Great song!

Track 10 - The Ice Age - shows Kay's influence from the Delta Bluesmen of the past like Son House.

Tracks 13, 14, 15 & 16 the four bonus acoustic tracks are great – clean, pure blues. Different from other versions, in some ways better.

Rating 4 out of 5.

Ciao' for now, peace.
Peter 'Cornbread' Cohen, CBP

The STLBluesometer
Mule - by Heny Townsend      
      
Enjoy our Blues reviews
STLBlues CD Reviews :: By band/artist first name
St. Louis based bands & musicians
More National Bands
A-B
C-H
I-K
L-N
O-R
S-T
 Live Music Calendar | Send Blues News | © STLBlues 2000 | Privacy Policy