Page 39 - BiTS_06_JUNE_2021

Elli De Mon — Countin’ the Blues: Queens of the 1920s — Area
Pirata
(www.areapirata.com)

Italian singer and guitarist Elli De Mon has been playing her own
brand of blues around Europe for around a decade and her book,
“Countin’ The Blues: Indomitable Women” was published in
February 2020. This is her first album for a new label and
contains nine songs (ten on the vinyl version) by artists she
wrote about in that book.

The vinyl album probably makes sense of the split between the
two styles on offer here. The first five numbers are very much in
a punky alt. Blues style, especially the version of Lucille Bogan’s
not for print ‘Shave ‘Em Dry’. Bessie Smith’s ‘Blue Spirit Blues’ has an appropriately spooky feel and
‘Dope Head Blues’ sounds (intentionally, I guess, given the theme), rather psychedelic. These are
thoughtful arrangements, then.

Elizabeth Cotten’s ‘Freight Train’ marks the beginning of the second half of the album (presumably
side two on vinyl), played very straight and a fine performance. Lottie Kimbrough’s ‘Wayward Girl
Blues’ has some impressive slide playing, and Memphis Minnie’s ‘When The Levee Breaks’ beautiful
fingerpicking. The CD’s closing track, ‘Trouble In Mind’, is slow and suitably weary-sounding. It
would be good to hear the vinyl only ‘Last Kind Words Blues’, originally by Geeshie Wiley -
hopefully Elli will release it on a follow-up CD. She has a good voice, plays excellent guitar, and
thinks about her music. Not a hidebound traditionalist, she is certainly well worth a listen.

Norman Darwen

Tom Craig — Good Man Gone Bad — Independent
(www.tomcraigband.com)

Now this is a really nice set, Tom Craig’s second album. He has a
fine band behind him and he sings well and as all the songs are
originals, I can safely say he is a fine blues songwriter. Take a
listen to ‘What A Man’s Gotta Do’ for example, a lively up tempo
slab of early 60s Rhythm and blues, with blues harp wailing in
the background and a driving accompaniment - no ego-tripping
breaks here, these guys keep them concise and to-the-point

throughout; the focus is definitely on the song. It is followed by
the moody, jazzy ‘You Made A Good Man Go Bad’, an impressive
change of focus.

‘I Like Soul In My Blues’ sings Tom on the song of that name, by which I take it he means a real feel,
as the blues here is straight down-the-line throughout. Mastered by respected guitarist Dave Gross,
the slightly less than pristine production approach helps too - by harmonica ace Mikey Junior, well-
represented on ‘When You Love A Bluesman’ in particular and several other tracks. Many of the
songs sound like blues club staples, utilising rhythms that sound familiar, but with enough
originality to make that irrelevant. Try the unpromisingly-titled ‘Sheepdog’ for starters...

Yes, I am impressed. Delaware Valley based Tom has an excellent, no-nonsense blues set here and
you owe it to yourself to try and give it a listen.

Norman Darwen