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the originals would really like the contemporary sounds and beats on offer and
particularly Datrian Johnson’s outstanding vocals. However, for someone like me
who knows all the originals I find it harder to warm to these covers, although I do

applaud Luther for trying something new rather than just trotting out precise
versions of these oft-covered songs.

Graham Harrison

The Lucky Losers—Arrival—MoMojo Records

I’m always interested in listening to anything recorded
at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland studio, in this case an

album by San Francisco's The Lucky Losers fronted by
singer Cathy Lemons and singer/harp player Phil
Berkowitz. They are backed by a band featuring Danny

Caron and Simon Govan Smith (guitars), Chris Burns
(keyboards), Edgar San Gabriel (bass) and Jon Otis
(drums), plus Andersen on guitars, bass, keyboards as

well as a few other Greaseland associates. ‘Scam’ starts
us off – a Stax-style song about scams with riffing brass and Cathy out front, whereas
‘Sunday Stroller’ has Phil on vocals with Cathy harmonising but she is back in front

on ‘Pull on the Rope’ an emotional gospel-inflected political song - “If we don’t work
together, we’re all gonna fail…”.

Cathy also fronts a powerful song about sexual abuse “I Believe Her, (Because I Am

Her) and ‘Pig Iron Tough’ is another autobiographical song about her life, both
growing up and also the rigours of touring. ‘Don’t Let It Slip Away’ is a classic
dramatic soul ballad with brass and a nice subtle guitar solo from Caron. Phil is back

out front on ‘Misfit Kids’ and the album finishes with ‘Ain’t the Marrying Kind’ with
them both singing over acoustic guitar and minimal backing. I’m afraid that I was

disappointed by this album, like all Kid’s productions it sounded great but I wasn’t
impressed by the original songs and the general style which seemed to fall
somewhere between soul and blues and not really feeling comfortable in either.

Graham Harrison

Kyle Rowland—Not Holding Back—Little Village

Singer harmonica player Kyle Rowland is from Georgia
but is now based in Sacramento and he also ventured to

Kid Andersen’s Greaseland studio to record this his
second album, with Kid and Rick Estrin co-producing.
The album has eight originals with seven covers and

features Kid, Johnny Burgin, Bob Welsh and Anson
Funderburgh (guitars), Kid and Jim Pugh (keyboards),
Randy Bermudes and Ronnie Weber (bass) and June
Core, Myles Silvera and Paul Revelli (drums). Kyle