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Wily Bo Walker (Featuring Kareña K)—I Still Believe
(You’ll Come Back to Me)—Independent (Single)

UK blues-rocker Wily Bo Walker takes something of a left
turn with this track, going for more of an Americana sound
here. This digital single offers the listener a wistful song that
builds and builds, from its acoustic beginning to an almost

Phil Spectoresque “wall of sound” by the end.

There is perhaps a touch of Joe Cocker to Wily’s gritty vocal

(and Cocker’s guitarist Keith Mack is among the cast of big
names running seemingly into the hundreds), and musically perhaps a hint of a soul feel, even
a homage to The Beatles and “Sergeant Pepper” maybe. Perhaps it’s not what we might have
expected, but it is certainly catchy and different…

Norman Darwen

(www.wilybo.com)

Sugar Harp—Sugar Is My Name—Music Maker
Foundation

Charles “Sugar Harp” Burroughs is little-known outside his
home town of Birmingham, Alabama but that may be about to
change with the release of this, his debut album. In 2019 he
suffered a major setback when his van went up in flames; and

of course a year later the pandemic hit. So this is long
overdue…

Sugar has a strong, no-nonsense blues sound and here he is

backed by Microwave Dave on guitar and Ardie Dean on
drums. The leader is a fine singer – try ‘Leave Me The Same
Way You Came’ or ‘Mojo Hand’ for good examples. Sugar’s lyrics are sometimes described as

“bawdy”, and with songs like ‘Special Recipe’ and ‘Lemon Squeezin’ Fool’, that’s hardly
surprising, though he never crosses the line. Listen also to ‘My Truck My Dog My Wife’ which
rides a fine Chicago blues styled backing.

There are traces of BB King in his vocal style, and indeed he does cover BB’s ‘Don’t Answer

The Door’ as ‘I Don’t Want A Soul Hangin’ Around’. His harp playing owes something to Rice
Miller and Junior Wells, and all in all, this is definitely one for the blues lovers in the house.
Let’s hope too for a swift follow-up from Sugar…

Norman Darwen

(www.musicmaker.org)