Mississippi MacDonald – I Got What You Need
APM Records
9 songs time – 35:40
London, England’s Mississippi MacDonald (Oliver MacDonald) delivers a dose of blues and soul blues with gritty vocals and guitar. He is backed by the usual suspects of keyboards, bass, drums, guitar and backing vocals. Six songs are band written. The emphasis is on the music with the lyrics being kind of run-of-the-mill.
Although his guitar playing is fine throughout, I’m particularly drawn to the instrumental tribute to Freddie King, “3:35 AM” channels the essence Freddie’s sound. The other instrumental is the Stax Records flavored “Soul City One” with it’s sturdy bass line, but overall the guitar riff is way too repetitive.
His hardy voice is on the mark over the recording. It is showcased on the gritty “Hard Luck And Trouble” alongside his earnest guitar slinging. The vocal is movingly dramatic on the slow and poignant “Sinking”. “The water has come over the sides, this boat is sinking”. The title track “I Got What You Need” chugs along propelled by the urgent sounding guitar.
Mississippi turns in the required soulful vocal on the gospel classic “If I Could Only Hear My Mother Pray Again”, backed by Lucy Randall’s doubled backing vocals. “Your Dreams” closes the proceedings on a slow note with only piano and low-key electric guitar accompanying his moving vocal.
MacDonald has delivered a well produced and thoughtfully performed CD. Having a crack band doesn’t hurt. Producer Phil Dearing also added piano and organ throughout, as well as additional guitar. The rhythm section of drummer Jim Kimberley and Eliott Boughen on bass shore everything up nicely. The tradition of British Blues is continued here to good effect. This effort is surely worth your listening attention.
