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REVIEWS

Willie J. Campbell—Be Cool—Blue Heart ASIN : B0CB72J29K

Willie J. Campbell was a West Coast-based bass player who
played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The James Harman
Band and The Mannish Boys among many others and sadly
passed away at only 65 years of age two months after these

sessions were recorded in late 2022. The sessions were organised
and produced by guitarist Kid Ramos with a core band of Willie
(bass), Jimi Bott (drums), Brooks Milgate (keyboards) and Brian
Templeton (vocals, harp) – plus a raft of other top-line guests. We
kick off with ‘You Better Let Go’ a funky song featuring Sugaray
Rayford on lead vocals, then it’s a mid-tempo blues ‘No More’
with guitarist Anson Funderburg and Jimmie Wood on harp. David Hildago steps up to the mic
to sing Los Lobos’ ‘This Time’ with Kim Wilson adding his harp and Janiva Magness belts out a
fine slow blues ‘Can’t Stay Away’ with guitar from Mr. Funderburg.

‘Drone’ is a down and dirty trance blues with Templeton on vocals, Ramos on guitar and Jason
Ricci blowing some fine-sounding harp. Weirdly ‘My Fault’ is an old Rod Stewart and The Faces
song, delivered as a chugging Stones-style boogie. We add brass to ‘Standby’ with Sugaray
Rayford belting out this soul stomper and ‘Devil on My Shoulder’ is one of my favourite tracks
with Shaun Pittman on vocals and acoustic guitar, Funderburg, Ramos and Mike Morgan on
electrics and Kim Wilson returning on harp.

‘She’s a Twister’ is pure Chuck Berry with Milgate’s pounding piano, Jimmie Wood sings the
moody ‘One Man Chain Gang’ with Templeton on harp and Kim Wilson is back on vocals and
harp on Huey Piano Smith’s ‘You Can’t Stop Her’ (more great piano from Milgate) and we finish
with a version of Peter Green’s ‘Albatross’. This is a good, varied album that is a fitting tribute
to Willie J. Campbell, he isn’t featured with explosive bass solos on every track – or any track! –
instead he does what every good bass player should, he holds the beat and subtly drives
everything. R.I.P. Mr. Campbell.

Graham Harrison
Eric Clapton—Rarities 2001–2010—Surfdog Records

This digital release is also part of “The Complete Reprise Studio
Albums – Volume 2” package and features 8 tracks that were
previously unreleased or hard to find. We begin with the jazzy
instrumental ‘Johnny Guitar’ once a B-side but the remaining
tracks are all very bluesy, from band versions of Robert
Johnson/Robert Lockwood songs ‘Travelling Riverside Blues’,
‘Little Queen of Spades’ and ‘Take a Little Walk with Me’ to the
slow blues ‘Losing Hand’ as done by Ray Charles. There is also a
great version of Little Walter’s powerful ‘Watch Yourself’ with
terrific harmonica and we close with Jody Williams’ ‘I Was
Fooled’ – like a Willie Dixon song done by the Muddy Waters’ Band – there is no higher praise!
Eric is in great voice throughout and while his guitar playing is as usual excellent these are very