Page 48 - BiTS_10_OCTOBER_2022

'By My Lonesome' ups the pace and sounds like the UK's Dr. Feelgood but 'I Let Someone In'
reminded me of the classic Chicago West-side blues of Otis Rush/Magic Sam. 'Double Gettin' is
a funky stop-time rocker with busy drums and 'Gone for Good' is probably the album's most
bluesy track, a traditional 12-bar in the style of the original Fleetwood Mac with blistering
lead guitar and we check out with a spooky laid-back reprise of 'Fairweather Friend'. I like
GA-20's old Harmony guitars and their authentic 50s sound but it seems to me that more
energy had gone into creating that sound than into the song writing here and I feel that this
album could have used a few more stronger songs. A few extra songs would also give better
value as at 28 minutes long this is a pretty short album.
Graham Harrison

Laurence Jones—Destination Unknown—Marshall
Records ASIN:B0B9BQXW9D

This is St. Helens-born guitarist Laurence Jones’ sixth album,
it was recorded at Abbey Road studios with a band of Bennett
Holland (keyboards), Jack Alexander Timmis (bass) and
Samuel Jenkins (drums). ‘Anywhere With Me’ is a strong
opener, a tight rock song with bluesy lead guitar breaks and
Laurence barking out the vocals, ‘Can’t Keep from Loving
You’ is more melodic and less bluesy but ‘Give Me That

Feeling’ has a more bluesy edge despite the processed lead
guitar sounds. ‘Gave It All Away’ and ‘I Won’t Lie Again’ are
both quite rocky but all the songs here do have very bluesy
lead guitar solos.

‘Holding Back’ is a nice laid-back ballad with swelling organ and subdued but cutting lead
guitar breaks and ‘In Too Deep’ is strutting rock over insistent riffing, while the title track is a
‘power ballad’ in the tradition of Gary Moore. This is Laurence’s most rocky album and while
there are still blues elements here (listen to the wonderful guitar solo on the title track) they
are few and far between, although everything is well-played and sounds great. I just hope
that Laurence doesn’t alienate his blues fans while trying to appeal to a wider audience.
Graham Harrison

Shemekia Copeland Done Come Too Far Alligator
Records ASIN : ‎B0B2WFTY6N

This is Shemekia's third album with Nashville-based Will
Kimbrough playing guitar and producing and again it is blues
crossed with Americana - but don't worry with Shemekia's
wonderful voice the music never strays too far from the real
blues. Sonny Landreth's seminal slide guitar introduces the

opener 'Too Far To Be Gone' and in combination with
Shemekia's powerful vocals this is a sublime beginning, 'Pink
Turns to Red' is a chilling tale of gun violence delivered in an
'Exile on Main Street' vibe with not only Kimbrough on guitar
but also Kevin Gordon, and Kenny Brown. 'The Talk' is a slow
blues but one with another topical theme - a mother warning her son about the possible
drastic consequences of confrontation with the police and features Rev. Charles Hodges on
organ. 'Gullah Geechee' is an African-style song of slavery with Cedric Watson on gourd banjo,