A Blues Tribute To Creedence Clearwater Revival
12 songs time-44:49
Although billed as a blues tribute CD as well as featuring some established blues artists, there is very little blues music in this homage to what is arguably the most prolific American singles band of all time. What there is here is a lot of well-crafted and performed music that is highly enjoyable. Some of the artists stay closer to the originals than others, but all interject their own energy and creativity to the project. The CCR connection aside, this CD is a solid presentation from very talented musicians.
Mike Zito from Royal Southern Brotherhood lends his gritty and enthusiastic pipes to “Fortunate Son” as slide guitar master Sonny Landreth takes off soaring through the stratosphere as usual. A Bo Diddley beat infuses “Bad Moon Rising” while vocalist Laura Burhenn and The Mynabirds transform the song into an appropriately mysterious brew with her haunting vocal. Blitzen Trapper uses what sounds like synth-horns along with harmonica and front-porch acoustic country-blues guitar blend in with some electronic effects to render a worthy version of CCR’s signature song “Proud Mary” in a laid-back fashion. The string band treatment given “Down On The Corner” by Spirit Family Reunion is just what the doctor ordered. Accordian and assorted percussion blend in to create the feel of the original recording.
Dead Man Winter give “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” a melancholy and spare acoustic reading. Leroux’s New Orleans take on “Looking Out My Back Door” bounces along quite nicely with slide guitar, organ and piano all jockeying to and fro. Blues singer-guitarist Duke Robillard fashions a sultry, simmering and steamy Memphis stew for “Who’ll Stop The Rain”…Bring your umbrella.
South Memphis String Band(Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathus and Luther Dickinson) supercharge “Up Around The Bend” lead by Alvin’s nasty and gritty slide guitar. Will Wilde pulls off a nicely noisy take on “Susie Q” as a rockin’ blues with some fine guitar playing.
Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King tear through “Run Through The Jungle” with Bnois’ echoed vocal over fantastic distorted and jangly guitars. Kirk Flecther’s bluesy guitar playing on “Green River” overshadows his lack of vocal skills. Trampled Under Foot’s Danielle Schnebelen’s “tough as nails” vocal delivery breathes new life into “Born On The Bayou”.
Even if for some strange reason you’re not familiar with CCR this recording stands on it’s own as an outstanding collection of performances. Nothing here is a copy of the originals, but rather a musical nod and jumping off point.
