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Forrest McDonald—Songs From My Soul—
World Talent Records

Austin, Texas born, but now based in Richmond

Virginia, Forrest, has in the last sixty years, with
this album released sixteen albums in all, also, he

provided the classic guitar solo on Bob Seger’s hit
‘Old Time Rock and Roll’.

Forrest delivers thirteen of the fifteen numbers

here with vocals and acoustic guitar only.

The opener ‘On Your Life’s Road’ possesses a

stark, dark feel with the strings striding menacingly forward and his baritone
vocals are equally demonstrative.

The swinging, lazy bluesy air of ‘Blue Mood’, is so, so relaxing. The warming,

inviting, slightly rasping vocal entices you in.

‘I Can’t Stop The Love’, continues this goodtime mood, with an almost vaudeville

feel. On the other hand, the loving offer on ‘Take My Hand’ is fuelled with a definite
strong, open spaced western feel.

‘Spirit in The Night’, counters the belief that nocturnal feelings are all bad,

especially after the loss, of a loved one, whereas ‘I Need You’, and ‘A Girl Like You’,
are quite simply, hope filled odes to love and lust.

The slightly Spanish Flamenco twanging guitar of ‘The Next Time’, delivers a tale
of interference and misunderstanding.

The walking blues of ‘That’s How I Want Our Love’ easily entices you in.

The strident but floating ‘Make Love Not War’, is simply, an anti war message.

‘Blue Morning Sun’, describes the stark, melancholy pain wracked emotions of a

lost brother.

The ecological disaster based ‘I Had A Dream’, is a seriously, doom laden tale.

The slow burning blues of ‘Misery and Blues’, is pleasantly stuffed with stuttering

guitars, horns and harmonica and ‘I Wish I May’, is an upbeat funky strident organ
led roller.

The classic ‘Trouble In Mind’, sees Forrest and his guitar cheerily, musically,
strolling towards the good times.

Recommended!

Brian Harman.