Chris Spedding Cafe Days CD

This is one of Chris Spedding's strongest albums. It arrived four years after his equally impressive ENEMY WITHIN and contains 10 originals and a cover of Mose Allison's "Parchman Farm." CAFE DAYS, like its predecessor, is filled with sly rhythmic tricks. The songs seem rather straightforward, and it's with repeated listenings that the subtle powers really emerge. This is also perhaps his best-sounding work, with credit going to Steve Berlin (of Los Lobos) and Mark Linnet.

Strong selections include the catchy "Put It on Hold" (which sounds like a cross between Mark Knopfler, David Bowie, and Dave Edmunds, and features Southside Johnny on backing vocals) and the characteristically driving title song. The set closes with the gorgeous "Portobello," a song that perfectly captures all of Spedding's allure, from the guitar tone and ensemble interplay, to his own casually impassioned singing.

The guitar wizard's only LP of the 1990's shows him in fine form, covering luminaries like Mose Allison, The Demics and his own original material. Spedding's Cv reads like a who's who of rock royalty: he has played for Elton John, John Cale, Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry, Pete Townshend, Marianne Faithfull, Tom Waits, Paul McCartney, Willie DeVille, Robert Gordon and more. This reissue includes 6 bonus tracks, including a duet with Pretender's Chrissie Hynde, 'Hey Little Girl'.

Includes six bonus tracks.

Personnel: Chris Spedding (vocals, guitar, bass); Steve Berlin (soprano saxophone, keyboards, percussion); Tony Garnier (bass), Gary Ferguson, Bobby Chouinard (drums); Brenda Lee Eager, Pat Carrington, Southside Johnny (background vocals).

Producers: Steve Berlin, Mark Linnet, Chris Spedding, Tom Treumuth, Shawn Pilot.

Musician (4/93, p.93) - "...exudes confidence with every well-placed note..."
Audio Magazine (3/93, p.88) - "...his guitar playing is brilliant, as usual, and he has become a better songwriter....CAFE DAYS [is] a fair embodiment of his rock & roll attitude and guitar playing..."