Wailin Walker – All Fired Up
Jitterbug Records
17 songs time – 57:34
Al Walker aka Wailin Walker is a singer-songwriter-guitarist from Vancouver, British Columbia whose music borrows from the sounds of 50s and 60s rock with a dash of blues thrown into the mix. He most definitely knows his way around his guitar as he offers employs various tones, as well as wearing his influences on his sleeve. Mister Walker is also in possession of an effective nicely rough-hewn voice. The two bass players occasionally contribute lead vocals as well. The remainder of the band-drums, keyboards and horns are up to the task. As no liner notes are supplied, all songs appear to be written by Walker’s own hand.
He surely has an affinity for early rockers like Little Richard and Chuck Berry, but by infusing their sound into his, not by imitation. The Richard vibe makes an appearance in “She Can Rock” with its’ musical structure very similar to “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “Long Tall Sally”. His pleasing voice is used to good effect along with his blazing guitar. Chuck Berry’s ghost rear its’ head on “All Fired Up”.
His admiration for early 60s guitar instrumentals come in to play as well. The Ventures tone is put to good use on the instrumental “Freedom Rock” with its’ “Secret Agent Vibe”. Link Wray spars with Jerry Cook’s wailin'(no pun intended) sax on “Mambo Wray”. The Ventures meet blues-rock on the exuberant “Devil’s Ride”.
“Cherry Red” is a hard arena rock rocker with brief uncredited harmonica. “Tired Of Begging” is a bit tamer rocker featuring slide guitar and boogie-woogie piano. They show more versatility by doing the 50s-ish rocker “Hold Me Baby”. They rockabilly it up on the authentic sounding “The Stuff I Use”. These guys can really do it all, witness the charging boogie blues-rock of “Smarten Up”. The slow blues-rock guitar instrumental “Napkins Noir” conjures up some of the great smoldering classics of the seventies. The simmering guitar rides atop an organ cushion.
Their influences help them create something refreshingly new. Al is very much a guitar wiz as he masters many styles. Al and the other two vocalists are on the mark, but unfortunately there are no liner notes to tell who is doing what, but it is all good. If you like music that is well played you have come to the right place.
