Rosco Gordon
Memphis Tennessee
www.stonyplainrecords.com
This first-rate album from rocking rhythm and blues godfather Rosco Gordon represents a long over due return to the recording scene. Gordon started in music early in life and by the tender age of 17 had hits on the r&b charts nationally in the U.S. Touring in the segregated south took it’s toll on the young player and upon meeting his future wife, Gordon suddenly left the music industry (after laying some important groundwork towards the birth of rock and roll), got a day job and proceeded to raise his family. All this by the time he was only twenty-six in 1960. Fast forward to the present and we have the glory of a brand new record by a man that still knows how to perform with style and energy. From the opening rolling whomp of the title track, Gordon makes it plain that he’s been itching to do this for some time. Rosco’s voice is gloriously tattered around the edges and the sympathetic backing of kindred spirit (and honorary Canadian) Duke Robillard and his band make a strong case to call this set classic. The 50’s Gordon hits are here (No More Doggin’, Just a Little Bit) a few slow burning blues numbers and to round out the disc there is a seventeen plus minute interview segment with label boss Holger Peterson that is at once poignant and funny. The package is presented with a fannish enthusiasm that shows a great respect for Gordon’s important past and his powerful current state. Welcome back Mr. Gordon.
Memphis Tennessee
www.stonyplainrecords.com
This first-rate album from rocking rhythm and blues godfather Rosco Gordon represents a long over due return to the recording scene. Gordon started in music early in life and by the tender age of 17 had hits on the r&b charts nationally in the U.S. Touring in the segregated south took it’s toll on the young player and upon meeting his future wife, Gordon suddenly left the music industry (after laying some important groundwork towards the birth of rock and roll), got a day job and proceeded to raise his family. All this by the time he was only twenty-six in 1960. Fast forward to the present and we have the glory of a brand new record by a man that still knows how to perform with style and energy. From the opening rolling whomp of the title track, Gordon makes it plain that he’s been itching to do this for some time. Rosco’s voice is gloriously tattered around the edges and the sympathetic backing of kindred spirit (and honorary Canadian) Duke Robillard and his band make a strong case to call this set classic. The 50’s Gordon hits are here (No More Doggin’, Just a Little Bit) a few slow burning blues numbers and to round out the disc there is a seventeen plus minute interview segment with label boss Holger Peterson that is at once poignant and funny. The package is presented with a fannish enthusiasm that shows a great respect for Gordon’s important past and his powerful current state. Welcome back Mr. Gordon.
Jeff Monk
The 2009 MONk view: Rosco finally passed in 2002 and the world is somehow musically a less better place without him around. He wasn't prolific during his career but he was surely influential. That is the mark of a true genius I think. If you find any RG albums in yr travels, do yrself (and yr soul) a gigantic favour and get to listenin'. It jes can't be bad!
No comments:
Post a Comment