|
 By
Cornbread
 Interstate
Connection Bluesmasters –
Straight From The Heart
{1998 | ICBM Records}
The
11 tracks equal 47 min., 56 seconds of total
playing time.
This
St. Louis band was touring with the government
from 1997 to 2001 with the Department of Defense
and toured from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Straight from the heart represents ICB’s
first and only recording. ICB stopped touring
due to health problems. Phil Johnson (vocals)
told me “ICB will be back soon”.
The
Interstate Connection Bluesmasters are:
Phillip Johnson / Lead Vocalist
C.W. Wright / Lead Guitarist
Keith Turner / Keyboard & Organ
Johnny Guyton / Bass
Larry Williams / Alto & Tenor Sax
Eddie Brown / Drums
The
Tracks are:
 1.
“I’m A Freak”
(written by Phil Johnson) is a bit funky consisting
of organ and guitar.
2. “Chicken Shack”
is a cool blues instrumental song, I really
dig hearing the blues played on an organ.
3. “You Treat The
Dog Better Then Me” (written by
Phil Johnson) is over 7 minutes long and features
fantastic vocals, bluesy lyrics, with the organ
as main backup instrument. Two minutes into
the song ICB gets down with talking lyrics over
a long session of blues guitar licks.
4. “I’m Not
Drunk” an Albert Collins tune done
up right. The guitar is great! Backing vocals
are a good touch with horn. I bet the guys in
the armed forces went nuts when this song was
played.
5. “The Substitute”
(written by Phil Johnson) has a 40 second musical
intro before Johnson takes down with his deep,
slow vocals. Steady beat, organ, horn –
heck this is a make out song.
6. “Mess Around”
– instrumental is swinging.
7. “Blue Side Of
Town” is my favorite track so far,
great blues tune, I was tappin’ my foot
and bobbin’ my head.
8. “When Something
Is Wrong” is an R&B song, Johnson
takes the vocals up an octive.
9. “Bring It Home
To Me” another R&B song. Once
this song came on I started thinking about Mrs.
Cornbread and envision us slow dancing in the
living room after the kids are asleep.
10. “Mess Around”
– vocal is a mess around, y’all.
11. “You Said You’re
Going You’re Going Fishing”
(written by Phil Johnson) was the other top
track on the CD. The guitar licks were on fire,
Wrights guitar is probably still smokin’.
This
was an enjoyable CD that crossed R&B and
blues.
Rating
of 3/5
Ciao'
for now, peace.
Peter 'Cornbread'
Cohen, CBP
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