Tinsley Ellis – Labor of Love
13 tracks
Tinsley Ellis follows his 2024 Alligator hit record Naked Truth with another superb album of all original tunes. Ellis returns deep to the roots of the blues with an acoustic album of songs. He’s done a lot of solo touring and his acoustic act has been a big hit. Here he showcases new music inspired by his recent tours. It’s powerful stuff. This is raw and edgy stuff done by a guitarist that at the top of his game. These 13 tracks are expressions of his love of the blues.
“Hoodoo Woman” begins the set. It’s done in a hill country style with a throbbing beat and some slick guitar and mandolin by Ellis. Here and on two other cuts he showcases mandolin for the first time in his recorded career. “Long Time” follows and here we get a song that hearkens to John Lee Hooker and his trademark groove. Ellis blows the listener away with his guitar work. “To A Hammer” is a somber and slow blues with a haunting groove and showcases more of Ellis’ talent as he pays a sort of homage to Skip James.
Next is “Sad Sad Song,” a down home cut with some pretty mandolin lead. The lyrics are sad but the delivery and tempo is upbeat, making this sad, sad song seem a tad more happy. The had clapping percussion is a cool effect. “The Trouble With Love” is a nice love song where Ellis bemoans about not standing the vagaries of a relationship. He finger picks his Martin to great effect. Then it’s “Sunnyland” where Tinsley breaks out his National Steel Guitar and howls out the vocal lead in typical Son House fashion– well done! “Whole Wide World” is up after that and Ellis describes our needs and those of the whole wide world. What we all need is love. He sings and plays with emotion and feeling.
“Sweet Ice Tea” is a foot stomping, front porch, down home cut that is vibrant and cool as he sings about the staple, every day beverage of the South and describes the need for soul food and sweet iced tea. We get taken to church with “I’d Rather Be Saved.” Ellis begins by humming spiritually and then then gets into this gospel tune where he sings of being mistreated by a mean, old boss man. He gives us a field holler sort of song with simple yet slick and repetitive guitar accompaniment and it’s just so nicely done. “Too Broke” is an up tempo and rollicking tune where he plays the mandolin almost like a banjo, attacking the strings with passion. He gives good financial advice here, “If you don’t want to worry, stay broke all the time.” I’s good to be too broke to worry!
“Low Land Of Sorrow” has Tinsley asking for a ride into the city as the coming storm is going to wipe him out like the last one did in his home in the low lands that gets ravaged by the hurricanes. Beautiful work by Ellis on his National once again, slipping and sliding perfectly. Next is “Fountain Of Love” where Ellis gives us some slow and soulful blues sung and played with deep, deep feeling. It’s another pretty cut and Tinsley delivers it emotively. The album’s final song is “Lay My Burden Down,” another Gospel track where Ellis sings of going to his final resting place. He’ll be sleeping in the ground, he’ll meet his make upstairs who answered all his prayers and washed his sins away. He again sings and plays with passion and a forthright directness. It’s superb.
I’ve seen Tinsley Ellis over the years and have enjoyed his live music so much. His recordings all resonate so well with me. Here with this release we see and hear a raw and stripped down version of Ellis and it is a wonderful thing to witness. The raw and rootsy approach to music that he obviously delivers from the bottom of his soul gives the listener something to savor and enjoy in a fulfilling way. He takes us on an outstanding musical journey and leaves us fulfilled and having hope, something we all need in these times. I urge you to grab this and add it to your musical collections!
