Page 47 - BiTS_07_JULY_2024_Neat

The much recorded ‘All My Friends Are Gone’, refers to the murder in 1900, of 14 year old Delia
Green by 15 year old Mose Houston in Savannah, Georgia. Steve’s gentle vocals and reverential
picking, emphasises the unnecessary wastefulness of a life.

The gently picked and understated, instrumental ‘Mississippi Blues’ was originally recorded by
one William Brown for Alan Lomax in 1942. Here, it is stunning in its simplicity.

The second Reverend Gary Davis tune is the joyful, Gospel, ‘Sit Down, On The Banks Of The River’,
simple and to the point.

‘Sally, Where’d You Get Your Liquor From?’ is an amusing, gently rolling tune from Reverend
Davis, concerning a wayward member of his flock, a splendidly understated performance by
Steve.

Utilising a 1976 arrangement from Nick Katzman and Ruby Green, Steve delicately and warmly
delivers the traditional number ‘I’m Going Away’.

The Dallas Stringband recorded the instrumental ‘Dallas Rag’, in 1927 and here Steve delivers
gossamer like finger strokes on this understated and enticing version.

Seriously Recommended!

Brian Harman

Gerald McClendon—Down At The Juke Joint—Delta Roots
Records DR-1005

Chicago native and resident Gerald continues his association
with drummer, writer and producer Twist Turner on this, his
latest album. Recorded at Chicago’s Delta Roots Sound Studios
Gerald is joined by Joe Burba; guitar, David Forte; bass, Tony
Llorens; piano, Hammond organ and Fender Rhodes, horns
are supplied by Delta Roots Horns, which is led by saxophone
player, Mike Jackson. ‘House Ain’t A Home’, features guitarist
Maurice John Vaughn, while Mark Wydra plays guitar on ‘So
Long’.

The opener, ‘Back Where You Belong’, is a smooth, horn led
soul pleader, Gerald consistently reminds one of the late Charles Bradley, who could cause you
to “well up” inside.

‘It’s Too Late’, is a splendid slowburning soul twisting tale of too little too late. On ‘Down At The
Juke Joint’, Gerald shares vocals with Mary Lane, which is an enjoyably bluesy, love letter to the
good times and good spirits of the past.

The powerful, slow blues of ‘House Ain’t A Home’, is the old tale of an empty life, when your
other half, leaves you. The sombre guitar ringing, sad ballad, ‘So Long’ is the age old, failure of
communication.

The funky, rolling smooth saxophone filled ‘Talkin’ Smack’, is simply, a tale of deceit, lies and
separation.

The slowburning, horn led blues of ‘Only Time Will Tell’, is a declaration of love and faithfulness.

‘She’s Tryin’ To Drive Me Crazy’, is a rolling tale of emotional mind games. While ‘Cryin’ Time
Again’, is a piano driven ballad of nothing but, bad times.