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‘That’s The Way My Love Is’, from Foreigner’s Michael Leslie Jones. This is an
enjoyably upbeat keyboard-led love song.

‘Hard Way’, is a rocking tale of deceit and desertion, he thinks it’s her, but he’s the

one on the run. Willie Dixon’s ‘I Cry For You’, is here, a gently rocking and toe-tapping
love song.

‘Think Yiddish’, is a tale of overdosing on America and its dietary offers, apparently,
thinking Yiddish and dressing English is the only remedy.

‘Yes I Will’, is a nicely rocking, call and response goodtime roller with splendidly
enticing guitar work.

‘Out Of The Blue’, is a very pleasant ode to love, with a doo-wop duet from Rafe Klein
and Simone Brown, underpinned by a burning organ and soulful saxophone from

Bill Holloman.

Recommended!

Brian Harman.

Mother Blues with Gerald McClendon—

Sleeping While The River Runs —Sleeping Dog
Records SDRCD10003

Originally released in 2005, it, has now been
reissued in recognition Mr McClendon’s recent

“Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland” award from The Jus’ Blues
Music Foundation.

Gerald McClendon; vocals, Steve Bramer; guitars,
bass, keyboards, and percussion, Gordon

Patriarcha; bass, Gikas Marks and Jim Barklay;
drums, Jerry Soto; keyboards, Hurtin’ Burt;
harmonica, horns; Baabe Irving, and Carole
Baskin, Lara Jenkins and LaShann McNicholas on backing vocals.

The seventeen numbers open with ‘Pass You By’ an understated, emotion fuelled
soulful tale of life and the deceitful people you meet in life. ‘Smokescreen’, explains
that life is not what it seems, a rich guitar and organ underpins all while the warm
mellow vocals and bass on ‘Keep You from Harm’, exude the love and protection of

fatherhood.

Energetic harmonica and picked guitar on ‘Leaves Tremble on the Tree’, accentuate
the hardships of life. The achingly, loving ballad ‘Going Down for the Last Time’, has

Gerald pleading to save a relationship.

The upbeat ‘Common Ground’ tells of drifting people and drifting love. The slow
burning organ of ‘Bed Down’, allows Gerald to deliver a stark emotional tale of
spiralling love and gambling.