David Starr – must be BLUE
Quarto Valley Records
10 songs time – 37:39
David Starr, the Arkansas native now based in Colorado has delivered a very professional and realized album supported by first rate musicians including his own vocal, guitar and co-producer skills. He wrote or co-wrote five of the ten songs. There are various guitarists and keyboard players that aren’t identified as to who plays what on which song, but it is all good. Reese Wynans on keyboards and John Oates on background vocals are special guests. The closest description of the music is Americana singer-songwriter with a bit of blues influence.
“Hole In The Page” is a slow and bluesy tale of lost love that includes some very tasteful blues-rock guitar. J.J. Cale’s “Bringing It Back” is about smuggling drugs out of Mexico. Nice slide guitar and organ. They do a tip of the hat to ZZ Top with a great version of their “Just Got Back From Baby’s” with more blazing guitars along with Pat Bergeson’s harmonica. David’s vocals are warm heartfelt as elsewhere throughout the proceedings. “Lonesome Train” chugs along (no pun intended) under the power of Eric Stucky’s energetic mandolin and delightful electric slide guitar.
More train references on “Listen To The Rain”. Bright guitar over a pillow of soothing organ flourishes. A good juxtaposition of mandolin, electric guitar and organ on the endearing “My Favorite Color”. Slow and deliberate is the mood of the original “Ezra Came To Call” with exquisite guitars. The Cate Brothers would be proud of his rendition of their “Time Is A Thief”. It falls nicely into the category of classic rockers. “I Wait For Mine” speaks of substance, reflection and waiting for redemption. The guys came up with a pretty faithful version of The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post”, although I would have preferred an original song to sum up the contents of the recording.
Here you have it sports fans, a totally perfected slice of solid music. This kind of music truly does my heart good and hopefully see it rise to the heights of public acceptance. Music of this quality deserves to be heard. David’s voice has that warm familiarity that you swear you have heard it before and surely you will want to hear it again and again.
