Tony O – Blues O’ Blues
Top Of The Blues Records
10 songs time – 42:59
Fear not, there are still guys out there like Tony O that actually play the blues when they say they are going to. It isn’t a fake claim here. With his abundant guitar skills and just raspy enough voice he delivers a solid set of covers and originals. Ok, he’s not that high profile enough to attract attention, but here’s your chance to support an authentic practitioner of the blues. Tony is another fine example of the blues coming out of New York. Here is backed by a choice set of musicians including The Uptown Horns. Bob Stander’s production pulls it all together.
“You Upset Me Baby” a song by B.B. King appropriately shows B.B.’s influence on Tony’s guitar style. The powerful Uptown Horns take the song back to the era of B.B. and others. Tony’s original song “Blues O’ Blues” was nominated for a Grammy for it’s appearance on Pinetop Perkins’ ‘Born In The Delta’ release on Telarc Records. It could well be a cover of an old traditional blues by the authentic way it is delivered and punctuated by Tony’s guitar jabs.
Back to one of his favorite cover subjects B.B. King’s “So Excited”, funky and horn driven. Muddy Waters’ tough “My Love Strikes Like Lightning” is given a run for it’s money and is pushed along by the powerful horns, something usually not used by the Mud man. Next up a song by Muddy’s cohort Jimmy Rogers “You’re So Sweet”. It’s rendered in Rogers’ easy rollin’ style with Tony adding his considerable harmonica playing to enhance the Chicago vibe.
He covers two Brook Benton songs infusing blues into the soul tunes. Tony hands the guitar chores over to Chumslick Nick on “It’s Just A Matter Of Time” where he peppers the song with tasty blues riffs. It’s Tony back to lead guitar on the other Benton song “Lie To Me” that is given a slight country-ish vibe to the bluesy take.
The original “Keep On Movin'” pretty much does just that enhanced by Tony’s harmonica set against his guitar for a classic blues traveling song about keeping ahead of the blues. Chumslick Nick takes a guitar solo on the otherwise harmonica instrumental “Just Drive”, a song that stands up against the finest blues instrumentals.
Another fine blues outing from a lesser known artist. To keep these type of efforts going strong us kindred blues fans need to support them. Once blues of this caliber is no longer with us, we will be left with the “dime a dozen” Faux blues guitar slingers. Hey guys don’t let this stuff fade away.
