Etta James - Love's Been Rough on Me/Life, Love & the Blues CD

Love's Been Rough on Me/Life, Love & the Blues album for sale Apparently, Etta James' musical career ends with The Dreamer. The legendary vocalist announced a few months back that this would be her final album; she's retiring from music in order to deal with serious medical issues. Co-produced by James, Josh Sklair, and her sons Danto and Sametto, The Dreamer's 11 tracks offer an imperfect but utterly worthy portrait of the places she's been musically with a couple of selections that reveal her dictum that "every song is a blues." Her signature meld of soul, blues, rhythm & blues, rock, and country are all on display here. The production underscores her lifelong commitment to these styles and suits the material at large. Her musical accompanists include not only her co-producers, but guitarists Leo Nocentelli and Big Terry de Rouen, saxophonist Jimmy Z., trombonist Kraig Kilby, and trumpeter Lee Thornburg. Ms. James' choice of material is rigorous even if two of its selections are questionable: the cover of Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" doesn't lend itself well to the choogling boogie arrangement here; and the funkified reading of contemporary country stars Little Big Town's "Boondocks" sounds like she tried too hard to make it fit. These cuts aside, the rest of the material is vintage; it reflects the work of Ms. James' influences and contemporaries. Her readings of Otis Redding's "Cigarettes & Coffee" and "Champagne & Wine," Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Dreamer," Bob Montgomery's country-pop standard "Misty Blue," Ray Charles' "In the Evening," Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "That's the Chance You Take" and "Too Tired," and Little Milton's "Let Me Down Easy" all contain within them not only their original traces, but the musical experience necessary to bring their subtler, deeper meanings to the fore. She re-creates these songs not as mere touchstones or mementos from a career, but as signposts to the living, breathing tradition that bears the signature and considerable influence of her life upon them. The Dreamer is a fitting -- if not perfect -- bookend to one of American popular music's most iconic lives. ~ Thom Jurek Recording information: Fort Athens, Riverside, CA. Photographer: Alan Mercer. Personnel: Terry Deroven, Josh Sklair, Bobby Murray, Leo Nocentelli (guitar); Jimmy Z. (saxophone); Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Kraig Kilby (trombone); David K. Mathews (keyboards); Donto James (drums). Audio Mixer: Ed Cherney .

Love's Been Rough on Me/Life, Love & the Blues CD music Larry "Mud" Morganfield is the oldest son of Muddy Waters and bears a striking resemblance to his father both vocally and physically. He grew up in Chicago, raised primarily by his mother -- his dad was always on the road to support the family. Mud started playing drums as a boy, then switched to bass guitar, although he doesn't play on-stage. He was always interested in music, but didn't think about turning pro until his dad died in 1983 and didn't start performing professionally until he was in his early fifties. On this, only his second album, he sounds like a seasoned pro and delivers a blistering set that honors his dad's legacy while carving out a comfortable niche of his own. "Short Dress Woman" opens the album with tune that uses the changes of "Got my Mojo Workin'." Mud's vocal is sharp and energetic as he sings the praises of a big-legged woman. He delivers Muddy's "You Can't Never Lose What You Never Had" with a performance that's an eerie echo of his dad's while the band channels the vibe of a 1950s Chess Records session, with excellent work from pianist Barrelhouse Chuck and soulful slide guitar fills by Billy Flynn. The title track, written by John Grimaldi, is a celebration of sexual prowess that integrates images from Muddy's repertoire into the lyric. Mud sings it with an understated menace that accentuates its slow, dark sexual vibe. Mud's original songs here stack up favorably to his dad's. "Love to Flirt" rides an easy-rolling rhythm to tell the story of a woman who makes eyes at every guy she sees. Mud sings it with a combination of irritation and weary resignation. "Leave Me Alone" sounds like a classic, a weary lament full of ironic humor with a bouncy tempo, Bob Corritore's solid harmonica fills, and Mud's growing vocal. The funky "Catfishing" is obviously not about fishing, as Mud's sly vocal implies; Barrelhouse Chuck supplies playful, bubbling organ fills. The band includes some of Chicago's best players, with standout work throughout by the rhythm section of E.G. McDaniel on bass and drummer "Beedy Eyes" Smith, pianist Barrelhouse Chuck, and harmonica player and producer Corritore. ~ j. poet Severn Records presents Mud Morganfield's Son Of The Seventh Son, the first national release by the eldest son of Muddy Waters. Mud Morganfield proves to be a chip off the old block with a powerful 12 song set of mostly original tunes in the classic Chi Liner Note Author: Bob Corritore. Recording information: Rax Trax Studios, Chicago, IL (02/2011). Photographer: Chris Monaghan. Personnel: Mud Morganfield (vocals); Billy Flynn, Rick Kreher (guitar); Barrelhouse Chuck (piano, organ); Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (drums). Audio Mixer: John Wroble.