Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps – Bad At Being Good
12 songs time – 48:52
Texan chanteuse Teresa James leads her Rhythm Tramps through blues inflected Rhythm & Blues on their fourteenth album. She handles piano chores on seven of the twelve songs, as well as her commanding and soulful voice. Eleven of the songs were composed by Terry Wilson or him and Teresa. A stellar cast of players was rounded up for musical support.
The intro to “Love’s A Full Time Job” bears a resemblance to Ray Charles’ “Mess Around”. Right off the bat this recording shows off the energy of this crew. “Love’s a full-time job and you got me working overtime”. The horn section is there at every turn. “Is Anything Alright” is a satisfying slice of soulful R&B. A sturdy guitar-horn riff propel “I Got This Thing”.
The horn section sits down for “All About The Benjamins”, a gritty guitar tale of greed. Dean Parks lends his lead guitar skills to “Trouble In Paradise”. B3 organ and Wurlitzer beef up the sound. A bit of gospel inflected background vocals takes “Angel on My Shoulder” to church. Teresa’s pipes are well suited to the soul ballad “Treat Her Like You Want Her To Treat You”.
Co-producer John Porter plays slide guitar along with Jon Cleary on piano on the title track “Bad at Being Good”. Kevin McKendree’s B3 is just under the surface. The backing guitar recalls what The Beatles did at times. It is the first time I heard the word “malfeasance” worked into a rhythm & blues tune. The band brings some Memphis soul to “Say What You Will”. Terry Wilson rips off a short but sweet guitar solo.
Teresa works out on boogie woogie piano on the horn drenched “We Came To Rock”. A nice tom-tom beat is laid down on “Anytime is Alright”. David P. Jackson’s accordion is low in the mix. Terry Wilson’s guitar buzzes around much like a pesky but wanted bug. Gary Nicholson’s “Close Down The Blues Bar” is a good send-off with piano, guitar and horns ending things in style.
Teresa & The Rhythm Tramps sure know how to party and do it up right! The production by John Porter (Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo) and Terry Wilson has everything in place. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!
