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Somethin' is a gospel-sounding power ballad with Samantha Martin and Mwansa Mwansa on
backing vocals and Aaron Goldstein adding a pedal steel solo.

'Enough' is another power ballad where Steve shares the vocals with Samantha Martin (more pedal
steel as well) and 'Uptown Lockdown' is a funky instrumental, while 'Petite Danse' has a NOLA
groove and is sung in French and features nice electric slide guitar and piano. More powerful slide
guitar on 'Hear My Heart' and also some soulful harp playing with the final track 'Long Way Down'
being a thoughtful, acoustic folky song about addiction. Personally I would have preferred a more
bluesy record but it is good to see Steve utilising the production techniques that he has learned
during lockdown and he delivers a record that sounds good, is commercial and has lots of variety.

Graham Harrison

Tom Craig—Good Man Gone Bad—CD Baby ASIN :
B0932YN3HD

This is Pennsylvania guitarist/singer Tom Craig's second album
and while his first record was more soul-sounding this record is
definitely more blues-based, probably reflecting the production
by harmonica player Mikey Junior, although there are also jazzy
influences - such as the piano-led title track. All the songs are

written by Tom and Dave Gross not only plays bass but also
mastered and mixed the record. The first two tracks 'I’m
Working Too Hard' and 'What A Man’s Gotta Do' both have crisp
lead guitar and driving backing including Mikey's harmonica,
then 'It’s All My Fault' is a reflective ballad that reminded me of
Robert Cray. 'Sheepdog' ups the pace and is a real blues rocker, while 'When You Love A Bluesman'
is Tom testifying what life is like as a bluesman - with nice distorted harp from Mikey Junior.

'Treat Your Daddy Nice' is a fairly conventional blues shuffle, 'One Way Love Affair' is another
funky Cray-style soul blues and 'Change my Way of Living' has nice organ from Eric Johnson and
also subtle brass. We're back to the straight blues for 'Long Time Coming' and 'I like Soul in my
Blues' does what it says on the tin - mixes soul and blues with riffing brass and then we close with
a 'My Turn to Cry' a lovely relaxed ballad featuring Bill Heid on piano and with Tom's vocals on a
par with Michael Bublé. This a good-sounding record with great playing from Tom and the band
and with lots of variety, it's all very classy but I was just waiting for one of the songs to really
knock me out but I'm afraid that none really did.

Graham Harrison

Jonathan Long—Parables Of A Southern Man—Wild Heart
Records ASIN : B097647MF5

Jonathan Long is 29 years old but apparently has being playing
guitar since he was six, picking up awards and praise from
amongst others B.B. King along the way. This album for Wild
Heart Records, the label owned by Samantha Fish (who also
produces), reminds me of 70s Southern Rock by the likes of the
Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd
and although there is blues in the mix, there is also country,
gospel but mainly rock.