Page 48 - BiTS_11_NOVEMBER_2024

'Stealin' Home' is one of the album's most bluesy songs and it celebrates the black
baseball star Jackie Robinson, with acoustic slide from Robbie and harmonica from

Michael Jerome Browne and 'King of the Castle' is another very bluesy atmospheric
song with lead guitar from Robbie and more harp. We also hear of the horrors in
the fight for equality with 'Neshoba County' telling of the 1964 murders of civil rights

campaigners in Mississippi, while 'Dear Mavis' is a shout out to the great Mavis
Staples with just Eric and his guitar (and of course the Staple Singers were also great
champions of civil rights back in the day). 'Roll on Buddy' is a powerful song about
chain gangs with Chuck Anthony adding his guitar and Greger Andersson on

harmonica, whereas 'Judgement Day' is a short acoustic song calling for peace, with
just Eric's guitar and vocal and Glen on mandolin.

The title song is another song featuring the beautiful string quartet but this time

contrasting with Mr. McIntosh's biting lead guitar and finally 'Victory Voices' is a
gentle song with Lily James sharing the vocals with Eric. This is another excellent
piece of work from Eric, his wonderful voice is prominent throughout and the

production means that the record really does sound sensational. Indeed, Glen Scott
plays a huge part in the album's success, not only in his production but also with his
playing on every track – guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, backing vocals,
string arrangements, programming etc. etc. – and also his co-writing of the songs

with Eric. As usual Eric's songs feature not just general topics but also references
to black American history and the fight for civil rights – a fight that still goes on today!

Graham Harrison

Toby Lee—House on Fire—100% Records ASIN :
B0DC1VH2WL

Like many others I was first aware of Toby Lee as a

blues guitar-playing child prodigy on YouTube but
then I got to see him close up at the Blues Heaven
Festival in Denmark in 2019, both on the main stage
and jamming with Curtis Salgado's band in a bar, and

also at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year. This is
his third album and each one has been a step up from
the last in both production and in Toby's playing and

singing and this new one features all original songs.
We start with the title song a loping rocker with strong vocals and tricky lead guitar,
'Just Hold On' is much rockier with a screaming lead guitar solo, while 'Count On Me'
is more melodic. I really liked 'Blame Me' which has an interesting groove and

unusual guitar and 'No Need to Lie' is one of the album’s most bluesy tracks with
outstanding lead guitar.

After this slow blues, 'Fever' blasts off - a fast powerhouse with both harmonica and

brass as well as pounding drums, 'Into the Light' has another interesting groove and
also slide guitar and a massive production, whereas 'Saviour' is simpler with subtle
guitar. 'Patiently Waiting for Love' is a nice soul ballad in the Robert Cray style,