Page 47 - BiTS_06_JUNE_2022_Neat

Gratama. Now, the band has released a 25th anniversary double album, freshly re-mastered
from recordings that were only previously available at their live shows which were primarily
performed in the northeast. The double album consists of 12 numbers and 7 instrumentals,
recorded in Boston and Brookline, MA in 1993, ‘94 and ‘96. The original tapes had to be
“baked,” in order to be played and then transferred to digital for mixing and re-mastering. The
Reverend Freakchild, wrote or co-wrote all the tracks while leading the group, except, of
course, for the Beatles classic; ‘With A Little Help from My Friends’, all the numbers are

performed in a manner the Haight Ashbury crowd would have presumably, enjoyed.

A very relaxed ‘What’s Been Going On?’, is the opener, the southern, country and breezy west
coast guitar and piano make for a gentle start but, ‘Red Car Coming’, is a short manic and
raucous country punk journey. ‘Casey and Hayes,’ is a fine rolling, southern piano led rambler
with an equally fine picked guitar. ‘Holding On’, is a lilting west coast tale of the battle
between sanity and the sometimes, uplifting effects of one too many chemicals. While the
mellow ‘Underneath The Porch’, describes the laidback attempts of getting as ‘high as a kite’.
There is, throughout the album a laidback 60s feel which is amply displayed on the
freewheeling country feel of ‘With A Little Help from My Friends’. There are two 7 minute
sprawling numbers; a live ‘Talk Good About Me’, which seems to be a late night piano led
bluesy plea for goodwill and ‘Belpre At Night’, is simply a tale of the town of Belpre.

The 7 intriguing and enjoyable instrumental numbers, mostly range from tight, funky piano
and guitar grooves to rolling jams and get up and go dancers. There are also tunes that could
have been splendid movie soundtracks.

Fascinatingly impressive!

Brian Harman.

Vaneese Thomas—Fight The Good Fight—Blue Heart
Records BHR 025

For those who may not know, Vaneese is the daughter of the
legendary Memphis bluesman, Rufus Thomas and sister to
Carla and Marvell, who achieved greatness and recognition at
the legendary Stax label. During her early years Vaneese
supplied backing vocals for both her father and sister at Stax
studios, contributing to their legendary recordings. This is her
ninth album and first for BHR. Soon after finishing college
Vaneese decided to leave Memphis altogether (apart from a
brief stay during the seventies) to reside permanently in New
York, where over the years she has pursued her own musical ambitions, recording in genres
such as; R&B, Jazz and Gospel (She was one of the original founders of the Swarthmore College
Alumni Gospel Choir and continues to direct the Alumni Gospel Choir) and moving into
writing, producing and arranging for more contemporary artists. Her vocal talents have also
enabled her to combine voiceover work for film and television while working with such artists
as; Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and Eric Clapton.

The twelve original numbers were written by Vaneese and her husband Wayne Warnecke;

they also recorded and produced most of the album at Peaceful Waters Music during the time