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Bob Powers You don't stay active in the cutthroat world known as the music business for more than 30 years without having great amounts of perseverance, as well as that essential known as talent.
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Rod Price earned his way to fame the old-fashioned way. As the television commercial has said for years, "He e-a-r-n-e-d it."
Price was one of the denizens performing in Londons pubs and clubs as the late 60s headed full speed for the 70s. Others paying their dues in London at the time were a couple of major talents, Eric Clapton and John Mayall.
For price the invitation to join the red-hot band called Foghat was a road to fame and gold. As the bands original guitarist, Price made a major part of the sound of a band which earned three platinum and eight gold albums.
As the years continue to accumulate, musicians invariably begin to wonder if what they're doing is really what they wanted to do, despite the passage of three decades. Price opted for the freedom of leading his own group, one that would put its main emphasis on the blues. Price, who turned 52 last November, plays Chicago style blues, but with a definite British rock style. On first listen to Prices new album, "Open" (Burnside Records), you can't but help think of such long departed groups as Cream. Shakey Vic even sings a bit like Clapton in his Cream days.
In some ways, Prices band surpasses the impact of blues/rock from its glory days. With Shakey Vick (Price was a member of Vick's group prior to Foghat) as his partner in crime, "Open," should please all those boomers who loved the sound of Foghat while attracting the crowd that loves to pack smoke-filled clubs in Chicago for a taste of the real thing in music, the incomparable sounds of a superb blues band.
Besides Shakey Vick on harmonica, the group includes Kinny Landrum at the Hammond B3 organ, John O. Reilly on drums, Bruno Ravel on bass, and on some tracks, Tom Daves on bass and backup vocals.
The selection of songs ranges through some great charts written by an array of the best blues writers of the 20th century. Sonny Boy Williamson's "Bluebird Blues" gets a sizzling reading. Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues" should make it impossible for a listener to avoid smiling.
"Open" is one of those rare albums: not a dud on the disc. If you have any interest or devotion for the blues, this is an album that should become a valued item in your collection.
The Web site for Burnside Records can be found at: www.burnsiderecords.com.
New Music?
Supreme Beings of Leisure, according to their record companys publicist, "came together, as their name would suggest, without much effort." The publicist calls it "a cosmic accident--four souls in search of one thing and finding another."
OK. Not quite sure what that means, if anything, but the first album by the group sounds like a good choice for the deejay of any of the techno crowd. Heavy bass, blurred guitar, and always a good beat. The singer, Geri Soriano-Underwood, wrote lyrics and has a pleasing if not particularly distinctive voice. The arrangements from this interesting quartet will not offend, nor will it overwhelm you with its importance.
I liked it, and that was enough for me. I dont dance (at least not in public), but I could understand why SBLs debut album would find a happy home in those dark spaces filled with perspiring young people. (Geez, do people actually pay to get inside those places? Ah, I realize, this is the year 2000 and what young people do for entertainment doesnt necessarily seem all that attractive to those of us in the "older" crowd. )
If you'd like to take a look at SBL's Web site have your Macromedia Flash plug-in active.
Good Guitar
Listening to Mick Clarke play the guitar is not a bad way to spend an evening. After hearing his new album, "New Mountain" (Burnside Records), there's no question that this musician knows his way around the instrument.Backed by Lou Martin on keyboards, Chris Sharley on drums and Jan Ellis handling the bass, Clarke plays with distinction. His vocals are those of a player without a particularly good or distinctive voice. But the general excellence of the music isn't harmed by the less-than-stellar voice of the leader.
Clarke has been around for awhile. Born in London in 1950. He saw Eric Clapton play at his school's fair and from then on decided he would pursue the life of a musician. It wasn't long before his band was backing blues great Freddie King on tour of the UK.
Clarke's band has stayed busy over the past 15 years, touring throughout Europe, from Finland down into Italy.
My guess is that seeing the Mick Clarke Band in person would be a treat. Check Burnside's Web site for additional information. (See the leadoff review above.)
