Bobby Hurricane Spencer and Jeff Dale – The Hurricane Dale Thang
Pro Sho Bidness Records – 2024
13 tracks: 42 minutes
The Hurricane Dale Thang is the musical collaboration between veteran L.A. blues musicians Bobby ‘Hurricane’ Spencer and Jeff Dale. Released in late October of 2024, this debut album has been delayed since 2019 when Spencer suffered a massive stroke. Years of rehabilitation, hard work, relentless support from Spencer’s wife, Retha, and dogged persistence brought back Spencer’s “musical prowess” and, as the one-pager states, “re-opened the door for The Hurricane Dale recording project to finally be realized.”
Bobby “Hurricane” Spencer began his musical career in Oakland, California, playing the various circuits in and around the Bay Area. According to the album’s one-pager, as an accomplished saxophonist, Spencer has played behind legends such as Etta James, Charles Brown, Lowell Fulson, and ZZ Hill. He has opened for Bobby Blue Bland, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson. Some of Spencer’s original music appeared on Koko Taylor’s Grammy-nominated Force of Nature album (released in 1993).
Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Jeff Dale is an award-winning songwriter and performer (according to the project’s one-pager). Dale has worked with such blues luminaries as Pee Wee Crayton, Etta James, and Lowell Fulson. During his travels through the blues world, Dale has learned from many of the greats—Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Clifton Chenier, and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Since the 1980s, Dale has released eight albums of original songs.
Jeff Dale, who has vocal and guitar credits on the album, wrote all the songs for The Hurricane Dale Thang, in addition to producing the album. Rich Hyland mixed the tracks, and the album was mastered by David Donnelly of the DNA Mastering Studio in Los Angeles.
Bobby Spencer also has vocal credits, and he and Dale are joined on the project by several veteran L.A. musicians, including bassist Elizabeth Hangan (also with vocal credits) and Albert Trepagnier, Jr. on drums, percussion, and vocals. Another key member of the group is Derek Phillips playing keyboards. Lester Lands has guitar and vocal credits, along with saxophonists Pat Zicari and Jim Jedeikin.
Gale-force winds begin to howl on the album’s first track, “The Hurricane,” featuring terrific sax solos and a solid backbeat. Elizabeth Hangan soulfully sings lead vocals on “I Really Don’t Care,” which is reminiscent of those 1960s R&B “girl groups” like Martha and the Vandellas, while Derek Phillips’ keyboards are terrific. Old school soul is also on display on the album’s next track, “That’s How I Do” featuring lead vocals by Albert Trepagnier, Jr. and an old school brassy rhythm. Trepagnier, Jr. continues the sassy, brassy fun singing “Only Girl For Me” featuring catchy lyrics and another great backbeat. Spencer’s saxophone shines bright on “Fairmont Hotel,” with its own great lyrics and backbeat.
The band gets super funky on “Put Some Stank On It” with, once again, tremendous sax play, intricate keys, and great backing vocals. In the tradition of old-style blues standards, “Shackled To A Dollar” has a message that all of us can relate to right now. Finally, “When I Start Drinkin’” is a honky tonk-style number with the Elvis Presley-inspired refrain…Well, that’s all right.
As their one-pager states, The Hurricane Dale Thang project is a testament to the healing power of music and the power of love and friendship. Blues listeners will agree that you can hear and feel the love—more like joy—on every cut and the musicianship is second-to-none…especially Bobby Spencer’s terrific saxophone.
The ‘Hurricane’ is blowing sweet and strong, once again.
