Bluesdad – Songs For My Wife
306 Buell Records
12 tracks and accompanying book of photos, lyrics and more
Bluesdad is John Cook and this is his debut album that was 30 years in the making. Hailing from Durand, Michigan, he married his college sweetheart from Eastern Michigan University, a woman of Indian descent who intended to marry a well-to-do man from India (or at least with a good tan as Cook tells us in one song) who was also a Christian as she was. They net and served as residents assistants in the same dormitory, later married and they’ve produced a pair of now-adult sons in the ensuing 30 years. The album celebrates their successful endeavor with 11 new songs and one traditional cover.
Cook, or Bluesdad as he calls himself, mixes a good degree of schmaltz with his music. He handles the guitar, harmonica and piano and sings on the album. His friend Evan Haywood helped on writing some songs and doing a few backing vocals here and there as Cook delivers some nice instrumental performances and sings about his life.
The album begins with Cook’s first song he wrote and recorded with Evan Haywood. It’s a tune asking the woman’s booty that he’s glaring at and lusting after. It’s a funny cut with vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment by Bluesdad who is asking this woman to notice him. Now that he’s succeeded, he sings and plays “My Baby” and says she’s so good lookin’. The looks and love center on her affects on his digestive track as he tells us what a great cook she is. “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” is not Meatloaf’s tune, but the Bluesdad telling us the criteria his wife had in selecting a mate. She wanted a rich man to be a kept woman. She wanted a good-looking brown man. She wanted a faithful man who believed as she. While two out of three ain’t bad. She got only the latter. He adds harp to his musical accompaniment here.
“Woke Up This Moring” is next. This has Cook doing the Mose Allison thing with some fingerpicking on this song. He continues that fingerpicking on the instrumental “All Right Now.” “How Sweet the Sound” mixes “Amazing Grace” with some “Sweet Home Chicago “ addition and turns it into a fun blues cut.
30 years of marriage is summed up on “Oh Darlin’”. He gives the listener insights to where the three decades have gone. “I Love You Woman But Man You Give Me The Blues” highlights the difference between he and his wife and how he gets the blues from the disparities in their personalities. “Front Porch Girl” is next, an invitation to his wife to share life together on their front porch in their ensuing years.
The piano piece “You’re Right Blues” follows. Bluesdad strides and romps up the keys on the long intro to his testimony that his wife strives to get him to admit error The old standard “When The Saints Go Marching In” gets gussied up by Cook and his friend Haywood. Bluesdad plays harp and the two harmonize. The album concludes with “Gospel Song” where Bluesdad invites his wife to another 30 years with him.
The CD is accompanied by a Shutterfly produced photo album, lyric book, and explanation for each song. The lyrics range from fun to fully over the top sentimentality, but it’s delivered with love, deep feeling, and a little humor. This project is truly a tribute to his love, faith and devotion to his wife and boys.
