I55 Productions artist: Eric Hughes Band - Drink Up - New Release Review

I just received the new release, Drink Up, by the Eric Hughes Band and it's quite good. Starting off with the title track, Drink Up, a classic jump rocker. This track not only has the beat but it also has great unusual guitar riffs and a little bit of sense of humor. That's My Baby's Mama takes a whole new turn with a pop R&B sound and solid radio vocals. Blues Magician is a great track with a slick guitar hook. I really like the choice of rhythm guitar harmony. This is extremely solid and in addition to the the funky bottom really sets the tone. Lead guitar riffs from Hughes are hot and this is definitely one of my favorite tracks on this release. Frostina is another funky track with great key work from Robert Nighthawk Tooms. With Texas guitar rhythm and overdriven guitar solos this is a track with a lot of character. The first real straight forward blues track, Tested Positive For The Blues, is a great swingin boogie blues with great harp and piano work. Talking the blues is a real nice contrast to his singing style and setting this track as anther favorite. Mama Don't Allow, a more traditional blues (boogie) with only percussion and a resonator guitar, is a lot of fun and another real cool track. Repo Man, a fast paced pop track with a funky bottom is a good opportunity for Tooms to play a nice organ solo. Going To Brownsville stays with tradition laying down some real solid blues riffs. Flashing real stripped down sound and distorted vocals, cool amplified acoustic slide work and cool breaks, this is another really strong track. Weevil Point Willie has a real traditional western sound and is quite refreshing. Hughes tells his tale and plays mandolin as the band shows solid support. Really nice. Closing with blues rocker My Baby Got A Black Cat, the band keeps a funky blues base as Hughes plays solid slide work. This is a pretty nice release from Hughes and one that should gain him a number of fans.  

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I55 Productions artist: Robert "Nighthwawk" Tooms - Spectator Shoes - Review

I've been listening to the Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms release, Spectator Shoes. It really quite good! The recording is made up of 11 tracks, most of the tracks being written by Tooms. First up is the title track, Spectator Shoes, a song about those cool black and whites (of course I have a pair)and how they make the day. This has some really cool guitar riffs and Tooms shows his vocal and harp chops and of course some cool B-3 thrown in. Forgive and Forget is a loping Texas style blues that will get your foot stompin'. It is a great rhythmic track as well as having great cool instrumental breakouts. Whooping and Hollering features Earl Forest on vocals and is a very solid blues song driven by bass and piano. Tooms is a really good pianist and it shows throughout this recording. Feed The Monkey is a laid back tune with a bit of a jazz twist. Aside from the clever lyrics, this tracks has some great riffs on guitar and keys. Cotton's Sack is really a harp driven song and Tooms shows his able capabilities on the harp. This may be my favorite track on the disk. Ode To Jimmy McGriff is a classic B-3 song. High Fidelity Blues is a great harp tune looking back at the Chicago blues and it's immediately recognizable sound. Next time you see me has that classic Texas blues drive great for a guitar riff and some great harp. Crumpty-ta-lump is a Texas style mostly instrumental track to finish out the set.

If you haven't heard this recording before, it's worth the time!!

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I55 Artist : Fred Sanders New Release: Long Time Comin' - Review

I just received the new I55 Records release, Long Time Comin' by Fred Sanders. The release is made up of 12, 10 of which were composed by Sanders and the band. The first track out of the chute sets the standard for the entire release with "I Got A Feeling", a Texas/Gatemouth style swing blues. Daddy Cain is an off rhythm style track with a cool groove, breaking to a full swing. Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, a track most often associated with Albert King but written by Don Nix of Goin' Down fame. Sanders feels Albert in his playing but keeps it as his own. House Is Not A Home gets the soul juices with the horns and all. Very effective breaker. Light Bulb is a cool uptempo blues giving Sanders the chance to stretch a little on guitar. He does have cool style. Hey Baby gets back to that Texas swing groove and Saunders settles into it really well again with tasty guitar soloing throughout. How I Feel has the rhythm tempo of "Let Me Love You" and is a good avenue for Saunders to show his own flair on guitar. Hello Baby finally gets down to T Bone walker dirty blues style. Saunders digs down and digs out some sweetness in this solid track. My favorite on the release. This is a very solid release and I think that most of you will enjoy it.
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I55 Productions Artist: Billy Lavender New Release - Memphis Livin - Review

I just received the new release, Memphis Livin, by Billy Lavender. It's a real strong release overall. It has a rock blues flavor overall but great guitar blues riffs and harmonica work throughout. It opens with Singin The Blues, a blues rock tune with some pretty tasty slide work by Brad Webb. Another track, Let's Party is an uptempo blues track with strong vocals by Reba Russell (who sounds quite a bit like Bonnie Raitt in quality. She is again backed by great guitar and harp work. Just Chillin is a real funky track with real effective key backing by Russell Wheeler. The track gives the band a chance to stretch out a bit on their own. Cool track. Each artist gets a chance to step up. Cold As Ice is the down and dirty "T Bone Walker" type song and my favorite on the release. Vince Johnson harp does his best work on the release and Billy steps up a little on guitar and also plays some tasty soloing. Get Along has a country honky tonk or Jerry Lee Lewis type flare. It's a real strong track. Blue is more of an ethereal song which puts the sounds of CSN on track with Brad Webb showing his chops on sitar which is actually quite effective. Shake It is right out of the can Chicago Blues. It comes off blasting with harp and never turns back. Billy steps up here with some great guitar riffs as well. Bad Boy is a strong blues rock track with solid guitar work and of course the band always sounds tight. 3AM is another track where the band gets to stretch a bit and Billy takes full advantage of the opportunity with his guitar and Vince Johnson's vocals and harp work set the groove. Delta Time wraps up the release with an Albert King like tune really getting down in the "Bad Side" groove. This is a very cool tune with plenty of guitar to end the release and leaves you wanting more. If you get the chance, check this release out!

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I55 Productions artist Willie Foster - My Inspiration - New Release Review

I just received and had the opportunity to review a new release by Willie Foster called My Inspiration. This is a CD about a real bluesman's music... Willie James Foster. From the handwritten name on the old van door to no legs, still playing them blues..even on the very night he died. He never made too much money or did the killer big money gigs. He was the blue collar or workingman's bluesman. - Brad Webb
This is a pretty cool little package. Not over polished Chicago blues sung rom the heart. Foster pens and plays 11 tracks on this cd playing harp and covering vocals. He is backed by Micky Rogers (Guitar), Skeeter Provis (Guitar), Donnie Brown (Bass), Mike Dill (Drums), Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms (Piano), Brad Webb (Guitar) and Russell Wheeler (B-3). The first track shoots out of the can with Let Em Talk, along the lines of "Messin' With The Kid" laying down a nice harp solo. Why Babe lopes along again with cool harp licks and cool guitar riffs. Found Me A Lover shows Foster's patience as a blues artist singing with great comfort and playing harp as a backing instrument. Born In The Delta is a great slower blues song and one great to highlight each musicians chops. Great tune! Leland Shuffle is a great instrumental track highlighting Mickey Rogers on guitar. Lonely Man again shows not only continued great vocals but particularly strong instrumentals from both Nighthawk on harp and Brad Webb on slide guitar. Foster plays each song with conviction and feeling. If you like Chicago blues style check out this recording. This guy means business.
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I 55 Artist: The Witch Doctors- Looking For A Bone - New Release Review

I just received and have had the opportunity to listen to the new Witch Doctors release, Looking For A Bone. The recording includes 14 tracks which are all written or co written by Don Cook who handles Lead vocals and lead guitars. The recording opens with Looking For A Bone, a Texas style blues with plenty of guitar. Bad Luck is a bluesy rock song with catchy hooks and vocal harmonies reminiscent of Eric Clapton mixes. Susan Buel, the female lead singer's voice puts me in mind of Bonnie Bramlett... not a bad thing! You're Outta Control follows in the footsteps of Jimmy Rogers with the Latin rhythm that turns to a full swing. Great tune. The Rib is a straight out Chicago blues numbers with great harp by Blind Mississippi Morris and smokin' guitar riffs throughout. A real stomper. Takin' It One Day At A Time is a straight forward blues rock song in the vein of Bonnie Raitt. Next Little Town is an uptempo delta style blues played primarily on resonator. That's Gotta Change is a great funky blues and a really great break in the middle of the recording. Distraction is based on Bo Diddley's but doesn't limit itself by tradition. There are some real nice instrumentals contained inside and also the basic riff is modified in a more modern way. Over and Done is an Otis Rush style blues which is certain to capture everyone's attention. Cook takes the time to grab you by the short hairs on this one and give you a shake. I Know Your Girl is more of a pop type song again geared toward airplay. It's well constructed. Warning Sign is a great little blues number played over basic key rhythm. Very effective. Love Thang is a prime rock blues with slide throughout. Living The Blues is a soulful song with Buel again taking the vocal lead and Cook focusing on the guitar riffing with effects reminiscent of Mark Knoffler. The final song is Surf's Up. It's a straight out surf song and it's always cool to hear one of these come up on a blues cd.

Sorry...No Video!
Really cool cd and from a band I hope to hear more of. Great job!
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New I55 Productions artist: Fred Sanders - I Believe - Review

I have just had the opportunity to review Fred Saunders newest recording I Believe and it's definitely worth the listen. Fact is I've listened to it a number of times. This 10 track release is written or co written by Sanders and his years of playing with BB King, Albert King and Bobby Blue Bland were obviously not in idle. Saunders puts out a strong release of diverse styles blues. The opening track, Stop Foolin' Around has a strong Texas swing. Another track, I Think About You Baby has a little New Orleans flavor with some tasty guitar soloing. Time Out takes this to the next step with an all instrumental number and the band gets to stretch out a little. Very nice! Let's Dance has a creative style which moves between a soulful ballad and the jazz blues feel of Otis Rush' All Your Love . Don't Know What To Do is modeled out of the T-Bone Walker songbook and is a pretty strong Texas blues. The guitar soloing is creative but not overactive. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Blue Bolero is more of a funky jazz jam and an interesting exploration into the bands roots. Wake Up is a cool song... puts me in mind of Albert Collins. A really strong track. Hey Come On is a straight up boogie... Texas style but with less guitars that we would typically associate with contemporary Texas blues players. The release wraps it up with Red Eye Gravy, again with a funky new Orleans flavor. Another chance for the band to jam it out and stretch a bit on their instruments.

This is a fine blues album and one that I feel most of you would enjoy.
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