Mother Blues With Gerald McClendon – Sleeping While The River Runs
Sleeping Dog Records -2025
17 tracks; 58 minutes
In recent years Gerald McClendon has released a series of well received albums that showcase his voice, that classic blend of gospel, soul and grit that illustrates just why he is dubbed ‘The Soulkeeper’ in Chicago. However, Gerald has been around far longer and here we have a re-release of an album recorded twenty years ago with a band called Mother Blues, an outfit of Chicago veterans put together by guitarist Steve Bramer who had previously worked with Sharon Lewis and, at the time, wanted to write material for a male vocalist. The band is Steve on guitar, Gerald on vocals, Gordon Patriarcha on bass, Gikas Marks and Jim Barklay on drums, Jerry Soto on keys, Steve on harp (credited as Hurtin’ Burt), Baabe Irving on horns and background vocalists Carole Baskin, Lara Jenkins and LaShann McNicholas. Steve is the main songwriter, Gerald chipping in with one of his own songs and an assist on one of Steve’s; on two other songs by Steve there are writing credits to RB Green and J Gritter.
Opener “Pass You By” is, quite simply, superb. Gerald’s anguished vocal is set against churchy organ and a slow, steady backbeat as he sings that “someone’s been stealing all of your time. Right before my eyes, I’m watching dollars turn into dimes”. The tune builds and the choral vocals towards the end give it a final lift. Steve’s guitar is featured on the easy rolling “Smokescreen”, both rhythm fills and a searing solo, before Gerald promises to “Keep You From Harm” on a gentle ballad with delicate guitar work and a softer vocal style. “Leaves Tremble On The Trees” has harp over a jagged riff and lyrics that sound like a bad dream as the narrator finds himself in a broken down car during a flood, even a close encounter with Mary: “I was in the presence of a great and saving grace”. “Going Down For The Last Time” is a soul ballad with the female backing vocals supporting Gerald’s strong lead, one of this reviewer’s favourites here. Gerald then shows his versatility with the uptempo R&B of “Common Ground” and the slow blues of “Bed Down”, both handled really well.
The title cut “Sleeping While The River Runs” is a Southern Soul tune, the backing vocalists again adding considerably to the success of the tune. You can hear the influence of Steve Cropper in the choppy rhythm work here and the song is clearly a perfect fit for Gerald, another keeper. “Come To Me” is a blues with Gerald in the mood for some early morning love and “Thin Line” a warning against taking love for granted. Gerald’s gospel tones suit the lyrical content of “Glory Train” as he and the girls testify: “and when my time has come I’m gonna hop that train and ride”. “Habit Of The Heart” is an uptempo number that precedes Gerald’s composition “Chalk Line”, a song that he had written after hearing Little Milton’s “You’re Gonna Have A Murder On Your Hands”. The horn lines add to the drama of this dark song, with lines like “They put a chalk line around him, now he’s no longer sleeping with my wife” – clearly Gerald is not a man to mess with! Steve gets out his slide for “Walk With Me” and Gerald shows his versatility by delivering the blues with aplomb.
There are also two instrumentals here: “Me & Ian” has elements of jazz and instrumental groups like The Shadows or The Ventures while “Where’s The Fire” is based round Steve’s nagging guitar riff, the rhythm section hurrying along and harp adding to the excitement. The album closes with a short reprise of the title track delivered by The Halsted Street National Uptown Choir over churchy organ.
Anyone who enjoyed Gerald McClendon’s recent albums will find more excellent vocal performances here, all backed by a solid band led by Steve Bramer. All good stuff!
