Mike Guldin – While I Can
Blue Sky Tunes – 2026
12 tracks; 43 minutes
Mike Guldin has recorded before at Kevin McKendree’s Rockhouse studio in Nashville, but on this occasion he handed the producer’s role to Kevin, who in turn brought in a band of familiar names from the Nashville scene, dubbed ‘The Hot Links’; a rhythm section of Steve Mackey on bass and Lynn Williams on drums, guitarist James Pennebaker, Kevin on keys and Mike handling guitar and vocals. On two tracks Mike’s regular band, Rollin’ And Tumblin’ replaces The Hot Links, Bill Sharrow on bass, Billy Wear on drums, Tim Hooper on keys and Craig Thatcher on guitar, aided by a horn section of Sal Lombardo Sr. and Kyle Hummel on sax, Andrew Portz on trumpet. Jackie Wilson adds vocals to four of the Hot Links tracks and The McCrary Sisters add their gospel tones to the two Rollin’ And Tumblin’ cuts. Mike wrote most of the songs here, writing mainly with Kevin and James Pennebaker, the two Rollin’ And Tumblin’ tracks co-writes with Bill Sharrow and John Cumming; just three of these songs were not written by Mike, two from Kevin McKendree’s back catalogue, one a Don Gibson cover.
The album opens with a tune first recorded by Curtis Salgado on his Clean Getaway album back in 2008. “Driving Rain” would make a good track for the drive home with its insistent rhythm over which Mike adds some guitar stabs and a solid vocal turn, the chorus aided by Jackie Wilson’s support. Jackie features more prominently on “Heartbreak In Disguise” on which she duets with Mike who is feeling wronged by accusations of infidelity: “Did I break your heart? Have I done you wrong? If so, please tell me. Let’s get our love back strong.” It seems that both parties are suspicious of each other on this soulful number! “Let It Shine” is the first of the Rollin’ And Tumblin’ tracks and it’s a highlight, horns in discreet support, James Pennebaker’s violin adding a country feel and the soaring vocals of The McCrary Sisters enhancing a moving song about a simple life with friends, making music and memories. The busy, uptempo “Always A Woman” is Kevin and Gary Nicholson’s song before Mike offers us “Luck Runs Dry”, a wry look at the ageing process, delivered in a deadpan vocal style. “The rhythm of the ocean is a soothing sound” sings Mike in the gentle “Placencia Nights”, a tribute to relaxing vacations in Belize.
The second Rollin’ And Tumblin’ track is “Goin’ Back To Memphis”, a funky blues tune with an autobiographical element as Mike recalls advice given by his late father, as well as recounting another visit to The Bluff City with his current band; the horns feature strongly on this attractive tune. An issue that will be familiar to many, “When The Bills Come Due”, is dealt with in a deep vocal from Mike over a funky backdrop while Don Gibson’s “Oh Lonesome Me” is given a great Rn’R treatment with superb piano and a classic rockabilly guitar solo. “Roll Chattahoochee Roll” pays tribute to the river in Georgia, clearly a place that Mike cherishes as “the soul of this river runs deep in my veins”, more fine piano and choral vocals. The album closes on two further originals: “Deadwood” is a tale of bad deeds and greedy people set in the Wild West and “Down The Hatch” is, not surprisingly, about drinking.
Mike Guldin describes himself as a ‘journeyman of the blues’, but that is not a negative, as he demonstrates his abilities as singer, songwriter and musician, ably supported by the other musicians on the album.
