Sherri Harding – Storyland
Instant Replay Music
11 tracks/40 minutes
Sherri Harding is a Canadian singer with a soulful voice. She builds on here relationship with the folks from Muscle Shoals and utilizes their horn group to help deliver an excellent album of original songs. Each song is a story unto itself, and Harding uses her talents to deliver each in a way that makes the listener pay attention.
Sherri handles the lead vocals and flute. The cadre of backing vocalists are Brian Cooper, Jeff Rogers, DeeDeeButters, Mackenzie DeMillo, Roxy Swan, Robert Farrell, Rob Holtz and Harding herself. Kevin Holly and Robert Farrell handle the guitars and Darwin Demers adds his to the mix on a few cuts. Clayton Connell and Jeff Rogers are on keys. Brian Cooper is the bass player. Jamie Holmes and Rob Holtz are on the drums and percussion. The Muscle Shoals Horns are Charles Roes (trombone), Steve Herrman (trumpet), Jimmy Bowland (baritone sax), and Brad Guin (tenor sax). The string section are Anne Lindsay (violin), Nancy Kershaw (violin), Claudia Vena (viola) and Amahl Arulanadam (cello).
“All Around The World Tonight” opens up the album, a bouncy and swinging cut with nice horns and guitar solo. Harding sings with ease and has a really smooth delivery. “Down In The Shoals” is a bluesy cut paying homage to her experience and work at Muscle Shoals. Stinging guitar, a choir of backing vocals and some good organ add to this one as Sheri sings with passion.
Next up is “Money Man,” a cut about a rich investment planner who took her to the cleaners. It’s another bouncy and swinging track with slick horns and a great groove. “Through It All” opens with some sweet guitar and then the organ comes in support as Sheri and Jeff Rogers share the vocal duties in a very soulful and poignant slow blues duet. The guitar and organ solos are quite nice, too.
“Rainy Day” is a midtempo rocking number with a nice vibe as Harding bemoans the inability to save enough for a rainy day. The great guitar licks continue. “Dark-Eyed Junco” follows, a jumping cut with some really cool percussion, guitar and organ. “Bad Weather” is a somber and thoughtfully done cut with some nice guitar and keyboards long with Sherri’s impassioned vocals.
“What’s The Matter (With My Heart)” is a cool cut with horns in full support. The guitar and keys are super and Sherri gives it her all. She switches gears with a pretty ballad entitled “”Tell Me You’re Mine.” There are some strings that help set the mood and the sax and piano are also nicely done.
The horns return for “Don’t Push On An Open Door.” It’s another rousing cut with Harding in command. The album concludes with the title track. Sherri sings with passion, there are some well done guitar licks and it’s a fine finish to a really outstanding album of songs.
I’d not heard Sherri Harding before and was quite impressed with her vocals and the original songs her. The players are all superb and provide a great backdrop for her wonderful vocals. This is a great album and well worth your listening!
