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

ALBUM COVER

Gary Gordon – Real Blues

{2005 | Reception Records}


One evening Gordon sat with his acoustic guitar, he played and sang these songs that have been buried deep in his heart since he was a young man, the tape was rolling and backing was later added - wallah, Real Blues.  Joining Gary is Tim Beattie on harp, Ross Sermons on upright bass and Noah Gordon (Gary’s son) drumming.

 

Gary said some are originals, some I had written for the great blind bluesman Jimmy Skinner, some obscure, a few in tribute to the originators who influenced me so deeply when I was a kid; Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Brownie and Sonny, Sonny Boy and John Mayall.  I never tried to copy guitar players.  I just tried to learn to play in a way that fit and not to copy but to improvise. I hardly ever play the same thing twice.”

 

Tracks:

  • Wang Dang Doodle – ain’t nothin’ like the Wolf’s with it’s polished delta feel.
  • Anytime You Want Me – an upbeat blues ditty with a killer harp solo.
  • The Same Thing – slow, rich, soulful rendition on a classic song. 
  • County Jail Blues – close your eyes, you can picture listening to this song in a stale jute joint late in the evening. 
  • Broken Wing – a country-bluesy ballad.  Beattie’s harp contributions are right on, perfectly placed and sound great.
  • All Night Long – Gary get’s a bit funkier on this over the other tracks.  Just try and keep your feet from tapping.
  • Gypsy Woman – steady, dominant rhythm bass throughout, my son bobbed his head to this one.
  • Walkin' Cane – my favorite track and a Gary Gordon original.
  • Hootchie Cootchie Man – been done a thousand times, this version holds its own with a traditional blues feel to it.
  • Help Me – another excellent, very enjoyable blues song.
  • Walk On – this has a bit of an Appalachian mountain, traditional/country very delta’ish feel.

Gary, a native of Sparta, Illinois, has been part of the bluegrass famed Gordon's for years, and this is his first (and hopefully not last) blues CD.  When in Sparta visit Gary at his store: Alligator Music 166 W. Broadway Sparta, Il. 62286 for a fine selection of resonator guitars for blues, slide and bottleneck.  Tell him Cornbread and STLBlues sent you. 

Not only did I enjoy working on this review and having the chance to chat with the artist, I really liked this CD, especially tracks: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.  This CD is among my favorite new releases I’ve received in a while.  Buy the CD!  Heck buy two, one for you and one to give a friend.

Ciao' for now, peace.

Peter 'Cornbread' Cohen, CBP
~ Cornbread@STLBlues.net ~

The STLBluesometer
      
      
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