By Cornbread

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.