Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps – Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2
Blue Heart Records – 2023
12 tracks; 49 minutes
After the first volume in 2021 fans were eager for a second volume but had to wait two years as Teresa released an album of Beatles covers in between. The second volume is an all-original set with Teresa, husband Terry Wilson and friend Gregg Sutton writing all the material between them, with one contribution form Vince Melamed. As those familiar with Teresa’s albums will know, there is a winning combination of styles, ballads, R&B and blues. The material was recorded across several studios, mainly in L.A., produced by Teresa and Terry and mastered in the UK by John Porter. The musicians involved include Terry on vocals, keys, bass and guitar, Billy Watts on guitar, Kevin McKendree, Vince Melamed and Bennett Salvay on keys, Tony Braunagel, Jay Bellerose, Brannen Temple, Richard Millsap and Herman Matthews on drums; Matthew Quave adds strings and Matt Lomeo harp to one track each. Horns are by Darrell Leonard on all brass and Paulie Cerra on woodwinds and saxes. Teresa herself handles the lead vocals and plays piano.
Teresa sings “I’d Do It For You” in sultry manner, offering to look after all aspects of her lover’s needs, a mid-paced blues with brassy blasts from the horns. The next two tunes are in the R&B area: Kevin McKendree’s piano is a feature of the funky “Better Angels” as Teresa declares that “ain’t gonna find no better angels around here, I’ve been searching all my life”; the stop-start “Lean On Love” has a great groove and some stinging guitar from Terry. “The Idea Of You” is a classic ballad with a string arrangement and co-writer Vince Melamed’s piano, the horns sitting this one out; the quieter tune allows us to appreciate Teresa’s vocal style up close, a hint of grit in her delivery adding a soulful touch to this torch ballad.
Teresa handles the piano on “That’s What I’m Talking About”, given a gentle swing by the horn arrangement over which Billy Watts delivers a nicely poised solo and Paulie a high octane sax solo. Teresa warns that “I Don’t Need Another Reason To Fall In Love” as the horns provide a soulful feel, rather in Motown style, while “Flip Flop” adds a hint of Caribbean lilt with fun wordplay around the theme of being head over heels in love. There is no doubt that once the love bug bites “The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants”, as Teresa puts it on another strong ballad. It is certainly true that “Ain’t Nothing For Certain”, another sophisticated tune with Matt Lomeo’s harp adding a blues element. Faced with a lack of realistic choices, Teresa determines “Just Don’t Think About It”; perhaps she needs a “Brand New Flame”, though she “does not want a one-night stand”, despite describing herself as “a hot one”! The album closes with “Second Chances”, an upbeat tune propelled by a funky bass line and a strong chorus.
It would have been good to have had one or two out and out rockers, but this is still another fine album by the ever-reliable Teresa James and her Rhythm Tramps.
