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Seth James—Lessons—Qualified Records

Seth was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up on a working
ranch in West Texas. His grandfather was a known honky tonk
piano player in the Texas clubs of the 40’s and 50’s, while his
father played his gold sparkle Slingerland drums across the
Lone Star State. He was given a Gibson Southern Jumbo guitar,
by his father and got a few lessons from him to go with it. From
this point on Seth was set on his career in music.

Seth began to teach himself how to play the guitar by listening
to artists such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Freddie King and Credence
Clearwater Revival. When, in 1996, he obtained a Fender Stratocaster, he became more than
aware of the potential of an electrified guitar.

Being a long time devotee of the music of Delbert McClnton, it was only a matter of time before
he delved into Delbert’s catalogue and delivered a musical collection of tunes from his hero’s
vast catalogue of music. To bring his tribute to fruition he called upon the services of Kevin
McKendree, who is not only a fine keyboard player and guitarist but also a celebrated produc-

er, songwriter and engineer, who also worked with Delbert for over 25 years.
James & McKendree invited an all-star band for the recording sessions, to The Rock House
studios, Franklin, Tennessee. Artists included were Lynn Williams, drums, Steve Mackey,

bass, and Rob McNelley on guitar. The horn section is Vinnie Ciesielski, trumpet, John Hinchey,
trombone and Jim Hoke, saxophones with Nick Jay and Alice Spencer providing backing vocals.

The proceedings begin with a solemn, short, spoken-word rendition of ‘The Glamour of Life’,
and then the music rips into ‘Honky Tonkin. (I Guess I Done Me Some)’ which has a blasting
intro of scorching organ and rising horns and then settles into an easygoing, almost funky,
“Honky Tonk”, groove.

If, there is such an expression as “an unapologetic, enjoyably hangdog “it wasn’t my fault”,
vocal”, then Seth certainly has it.

‘Real Good Itch’ has an enticing, goodtime blues twanging guitar feel throughout, with laid
back piano and a lovely slapping percussion. ‘Who’s Fooling Who’ is an enjoyable loose soul
fuelled, funky groover with slowly smoking organ and a lazy guitar entices. The trampling,
loose limbed inviting blues horns of ‘Maybe, Someday Baby’ rolls along, as the laidback guitar
and piano strolls on. On the haunting, ‘The Rub’ the mellow organ and guitar, slowly roll on
like “tumbleweed” as a messy tale of murder unfolds.

‘Morgan City Fool’ is another fine example of sordid tales of murder, delivered as an easygoing,
swamp sticky, southern foot-tapper. The swinging percussion, rolling piano and twanging
guitar on ‘Victim Of Life’s Circumstances’, delivers another enjoyably jolly tale of murder and
mayhem. Sweet, rising soulful-horns drive ‘Lesson In The Pain Of Love’, while an enticingly

slow piano and grooving funky guitar ride along. The toe tapping ‘Ruby Louise’ is a splendid
horn-driven, soul infused piano roller. As is, ‘B Movie Boxcar’, but on a much grander scale, the
blasting horns, ending solos could well be a tribute to “The Blues Brothers”. The slowburning
organ and piano led ballad ‘Take It Easy, displays a vocal, which is full of remorse, disappoint-
ment, pain and honesty.

Recommended!

Brian Harman