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Sandy Carroll—Love On It—Blue Heart Records BHR 052

Sandy is a native of Stantonville, Tennessee; she established
her deserved reputation through years of widespread touring
and performing in the late-night bars on Beale Street in 1983.
After four albums with Cat Food Records, Sandy released this,
her debut album in 2023, for Blue Heart Records. Her husband,
Jim Gaines is in the producer’s chair.

Sandy takes lead vocals with Will McFarlane; guitar, Mark
Narmore; guitar, keyboards, Dave Smith; Bass, Steve Potts;
drums. Sandy possesses a warming, ethereal, sultry southern
voice that unfailingly entices you into her music, which
embraces echoes of eighties pomp and swagger.

The opener ‘Love On It’, is a gospel infused barrelhouse piano roller. ‘Heart Full Of Honey’,
delivers a guitar led swampy, reggae groove. ‘Don’t Rattle Them Bones’ is an insistently enticing
chanting rocking toe-tapper. ‘Hurt So Hard’ is an eighties rising ballad with Sandy giving a soulful
breathy vocal. The guitar led ballad ‘Baby Blue’ is very much in an easygoing Eric Clapton mould.

The slowburning, organ led ‘Soul Of The Heart’ fuses an emotional drawling saxophone courtesy
of Buddy Leach, with a sympathetic guitar. Pounding percussion and softly wailing guitar work,
combine to power the gently rocking ‘Blindsided’.

The gently burning organ and soaring horns on ‘Trying To Feel Heaven’ exude an engaging
mixture of soul and R&B. The floating, guitar and organ on ‘Gonna Come A Day’ create a pleasant
combination of gospel and blues. ‘Preacher Man’ is a sultry, slow, breathy tramping and prowling
bluesy tale of love.

The very sensual, late night horns and equally emotive guitar work on ‘Code Blue’ create a very
intimate atmosphere. ‘Gotta Hand It To You’, is a slowburning, heartfelt, piano led ballad that
oozes warmth and affection.

Recommended!

Brian Harman.

Willie J. Campbell—Be Cool—Blue Heart Records BHR 050

This is the first and last solo album from Willie. (The album
was recorded shortly before his death from ALS, Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis). He was born in Detroit, Michigan, 19th June
1957 and died on 18th December 2022. The album was
released in 2023.

During his career as a renowned bassist who played with such
bands as the James Harman Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds
and The Mannish Boys.

The artists on the fifteen numbers here are too numerous to
mention but, the core band are Willie on bass, Kid Ramos;
guitar, Jimi Bott; drums/percussion and Brooks Milgate on keyboards with numerous guest
vocalists.

‘You Better Let Go’ is a tight, funky piece with Sugar Ray Rayford on equally funky vocals. The
rocking ‘No More’ has Jim Wood on harmonica. Kim Wilson provides a lazy harmonica on the