The full title is 'Nudge It Up A Notch' but space restrictions cut that back!
Some people are legends because of acclamation by the press and others are praised to the heavens by fellow musicians, but the mark of a true legend in my mind is one who has been raised to that point by connoisseurs of their musical genre.
Steve Cropper is one of the last kind, known for his work with Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Booker T & The M.G.s backing Country legend Jimmy Buffett, rock heroes John (Cougar) Mellencamp, Bob Dylan and Jeff Beck and many many more, for writing classics such as “Dock of The Bay” and “In The Midnight Hour”, as well as for his appearance in classic cult music film ‘The Blues Brothers’, being the large, bearded, long haired guitarist holding it all together with a well chosen riff here or just the right note there. A true legend in the eyes of many.
Felix Cavaliere is perhaps not as well known as Steve, but his 60s band The Young Rascals are still held in high regard, with Mr Cavalieres distinctive blues voice being familiar to anyone with an interest in music of that era, and is an absolutely perfect foil for Mr Croppers guitar playing. Together they have around 90 years of musicianship...
That all said... is his new album any good?
Overall, yes... but there are a few slight ‘clunkers’ in there, but the quality of the rest more than makes up for these - the opener “One Of Those Days” gently strolls along, with the guitar and organ pumping gently in the background. “Full Moon Tonight” is one of the most traditional tracks on the album, a simple solid blues instrumental showing the ability of the man, simple riffing before bringing it down.... low.....
The final track, “Love Appetite” invokes 60s soul but mixes it with blues, jazz and even a hint of country, this instrumental is probably the best choice they could have made to finish on.
Yes, there are a couple of ‘iffy’ tracks, notably the two tracks influenced by calypso and reggae, “Jamaica Delight” and “Imperfect World” and (for me) the funky “Make The Time Go Faster” doesn’t seem to fit in with the feel of the rest of the CD.
The good tracks far outweigh the bad though, there are even a couple of dancers in the shape of “If It Wasn’t For Loving You” and “To Make It Right”, the second of which has a very late Stax records sound, and I for one would have loved to hear Wilson Pickett roar through it.
Given Steve Croppers guitar style, it is inevitable that there would be a rock/blues track hidden in there somewhere, and in “Cuttin’ It Close” there is. Another of the tracks I keep going back to as I write this, I can hear it in my head when I don’t!
All in all, the dozen tracks show off the talent of the two main protagonists and if it wasn’t for the two Jamaican influenced tracks would be my contender for ‘Scooterings Album of the Month’.
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03-27-2010 08:11 PM