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Blues Underground Network |
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Johnny Rawls "Memphis Still Got
Soul"
I will certainly be the first to
admit that Soul is not my favorite genre of music to listen to, but that
doesn't mean that I haven't run across the odd Soul singer whom has caught
my ear, with Johnny Rawls being the most recent. In fact, Johnny Rawls has
been catching the attention of a lot of people over his illustrious
career, which now spans 5
decades.
Born and raised in Mississippi, his
love of music started at a early age after "hearing his grandfather
play the blues guitar one Christmas morning". His professional career
also started early, as he was still in high school when he began
performing with numerous stars such as "ZZ Hill, Little Johnny Taylor,
Joe Tex and the Sweet Inspirations", to name a few. Throughout his
career he has really done it all, from producing and songwriting to even
owning a record company, and many many other musically related things in
between.
The last decade has been a rewarding
one for Johnny Rawls, garnering him many nominations, awards, and
recognition from organizations such as the Blues Foundation, Living
Blues Magazine, West Coast Blues Hall of Fame, and the W.C. Handy Awards.
He also now shares a Blues Trail Marker with Legends Tyrone Davis and
Little Milton, which is "at the original site of the Hi Hat Club in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
".
Johnny Rawls newest Album, "Memphis
Still Got Soul", follows his acclaimed 2009 release "Ace of Spades" which
not only charted at #4 but also "remained in the top 20 for three
months". "Ace of Spades" was responsible for Rawls' winning a Best
Soul Blues Album of the Year Award and a nomination for "Best Male
Soul Blues Artist of the Year by the Blues Foundation". With the
release of "Memphis Still Got Soul", similar accolades, may once again,
not be to far
off.
"Memphis Still Got Soul" consists of
11 tracks, of which Johnny Rawls is credited for co-writing 9 on them. The
other co-writers with Johnny Rawls on "Memphis Still Got Soul" were Bob
Trenchard (3 Tracks) and Dan Nichols (5 Tracks). Bob Trenchard is also
credited for solely writing Track 8 "Flying Blind" and co-writing Track 9
"Don't Act So Innocent" with Dan Ferguson. Trenchard, Nichols, and
Ferguson, are also musicians on "Memphis Still Got Soul", playing Bass,
Drums/Percussion, and Keyboards. Dan Ferguson was also responsible for
Arranging. The Cover that was chosen for "Memphis Still Got Soul" was
"Blind, Crippled and Crazy", written by Darryl Carter, Charles Edward Sr
Hodges, and Deadric Malone and previously made popular via The Derek
Trucks Band on their hugely successful album, Songlines. "Blind, Crippled
and Crazy" was added to "Memphis Still Got Soul", to honor O.V. Wright,
whom was the first to make that song a hit. "Johnny Rawls was O.V.
Wright's band leader the last several years of Wright’s life. In fact,
that was the song Johnny & the band played as O.V. Wright came onstage
each night for his shows.
" Also to honor O.V. Wright, Johnny Rawls kept the
band together for several years after
Wright's
passing.
Every album has it own uniqueness to
it in the way it was recorded, the history behind the songs, or even the
Cover Art. With "Memphis Still Got Soul", the uniqueness comes from
the way it was recorded. You see this album was recorded in two different
locations, (Sun Ranch Studio's, Tornillo, Texas and Soul Tree Recording,
Helena, Montana) which you might say is not out of the ordinary, but
for this album, each location had completely different musicians and
background vocalists accompanying Johnny Rawls. I have not come across
that situation before and it is a testament to not only Rawls', but also
to the immense amount of talent that he had at his disposal. Also unique
is the fact that except for the first two tracks, all other tracks switch
between one recording studio and the other and since basically the same
instruments were used at each studio, the end result is virtually
seamless. The one difference that you may notice though, is that Johnny
Rawls takes over the Guitar playing
when recording was done at Soul
Tree
Recording.
When it came to the music on "Memphis
Still Got Soul", there really wasn't anything fancy here, just Johnny
Rawls doing what he has always done best, and that is pouring out his
heart and soul for his fans, with a consistency that has garnered him so
much success over the years. All the songs were sung about as good as any
Soul singer could belt them out, and the musical and vocal accompaniment
was, second to none. All in all, a job very well done via all
contributors, especially Johnny Rawls whom continues to show us that he
really
does got Soul, in more ways
then
one.
For fans of Soul music, "Memphis
Still Got Soul" will not disappoint you, for
Johnny Rawls music in not capable
of
that.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground
Network)
Additional Info
Tracklist
1. Memphis Still Got Soul 4:09
2. Blind, Crippled and Crazy 2:52 3. Give You What You Need 4:00 4. Take You For A Ride 4:18 5. Stop The Rain 4:03 6. Burning Bridges 3:26 7. My Guitar 3:21 8. Flying Blind 3:10 9. Blues Woman 3:38 10. Don't Act So Innocent 3:46 11. Love Stuff 4:02
Listen To Samples Here...
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