Larry McCray – Heartbreak City
Keeping The Blues Alive Records
10 tracks – 53 minutes
Larry McCay was born in Magnolia, Arkansas on April 5, 1960, the second youngest of nine children. His family moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1972. Larry learned to play guitar from his sister Clara who had her own band that traveled regionally. After high school, Larry worked on the General Motors assembly line. But his interest in music remained and he formed his own band that played the local clubs with his brothers Carl on bass and Steve on drums.
Larry released his first album, Ambition, in 1991. The album was recorded in a friend’s basement studio. The album was released on Pointblank Records, which also released music from Albert Collins. The two artists then toured together. Many albums followed that were produced by veteran musicians, which Larry has continuously pointed out as being superior to his initial home-produced debut. Joe Bonamassa identified Larry as one of the most under-appreciated but talented blues musicians performing today and vowed to raise awareness of him. Joe and Josh Smith stepped into the producer’s chair for Larry’s 2022 album Blues Without You and the duo returned to produce this album, Larry’s eleventh release.
The album features seven songs co-written by McCray and three co-written by Josh Smith for McCray’s album. Larry’s deep soulful voice booms out on “Try to Be a Good Man” with instructions “to give her all the love you can and do your best to understand”. “You don’t have to wear a ring in your nose.” “Give her your heart, give her your mind, show some respect and always be kind.” “Heartbreak City” is a slow-burning blues with horns and smooth guitar supported by organ from Reese Wynans. He notes this is where “only the lonely survive”. “Down here they don’t come out alive.” “Bye Bye Blues” is a soul tune complete with backing vocals and discusses how love can cure all our ills noting “when I said hello to you, I said bye bye blues”.
Larry’s guitar shines on “Bright Side” as he asks, “How many times can a man’s heart be broken before it all cracks and turns to dust? How many days must the rain keep falling until his whole world turns to rust?” but declares ” I am not going to live in the shadows forever”. “Everything Falls on Me” uses digital percussion behind a lean blues riff as Larry explains “I get up in the morning, make sure my bills are paid. Mop the floor, do the dishes cause I don’t got no maid. Hope my baby would pick up some of the slack, but she’s never around. Don’t know where my baby’s at”. He remorsefully acknowledges “I Know What I’ve Done” and promises to amend in a slow, crying blues with Joe Bonamassa adding his guitar as the music rises and floats in a smooth transition.
Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith guest on “Keep on Loving My Baby” with Wynans throwing in some honky-tonk piano on a high-energy roll with each of the guitarists taking turns driving the song. “Hangman” shifts to an acoustic Delta groove in a stomping blues number and stories of a man’s death and a dope dealer giving out a powder to a woman as he explains “life don’t come with instructions on the road to self-destruction. Out there on the loose, you better watch out for that noose”. “Stop Your Crying” jumps out with a piano backing as Larry begs her “to come back home. You know I love you, can’t leave you alone”. If I can’t make it with you, I don’t want to make it with anyone else”. “You are out there running around, forgetting our sacred vows.” The album closes with a funky “Crazy World”, as he states, “that the whole world is upside down”.
Larry is a powerful, emotive singer with guitar work that stands out among the best performing today. Joe certainly is correct; Larry should be on the top of every chart. And if you have any love of soulful blues, this album should be a must.
