Label: Stormy Monday
Blues
Richard Ray Farrell has an education in Truth/Reality that few Americans are fortunate enough to experience and it has also profoundly shaped his Blues and approach to music in general. Richard was given a 'gift' in the mid-1970s when he was still an impressionable and innocent teen. It was a return Airline Ticket to Europe and while the friends he travelled with all returned to America at the end of the summer, Richard stayed on, determined to make his way all over Europe with his guitar paying for his rent and food. Years soon stretched into decades and before long, Richard Ray Farrell was good enough to play Blues Clubs from Denmark to Italy. Many U.S. performers travelling to play Festivals/Clubs in Europe were impressed and certainly mystified by this fellow American that was held in such high esteem and known by everyone in European Blues' circles. To be an American living outside the U.S. one has the realization that the so-called Free Press/Media in the U.S. is, at best, a mirage and when talking to Richard, now back in the U.S., he expressed concern at just how uninformed Americans really are, especially when compared to Europeans. But, the hardest change he's had to endure is the lack of respect shown towards Blues in 2006 in America. "It's like it doesn't even exist. I knew it was bad, but not this bad!" While Richard has become 'European-ized' and he finds many things to be 'less-than' there's ample proof on this CD that his standing in Europe as a Master-Class musician and performer was totally deserved. There are hundreds of releases each and every year by solo acoustic Blues artist and very few rise above the 'tired, tedious, interpreter' classification. I joke that if I can get through one complete listening of a contemporary Acoustic Blues CD, that it deserves inclusion in this magazine. A disc from this genre that is actually ENJOYABLE and bears repeated listenings is a real rarity and a treat and that's what "Acoustic Roots" is. While many master guitar and/or harmonica, few come thru with the 'winning Ace' i.e. vocal chops and Farrell is blessed with a GREAT voice that's both unique and easy-on-the-ears. He's also a gifted acoustic slide player and his One Man Band days in Europe (vocals, guitar, harmonica) are recreated here 'live-in-the-studio'.
By A. Grigg.
**
Richard’s singing, guitar and harmonica playing and songwriting come from gut feeling and some inner compulsion, like the work of the great blues masters of the past.
By David Evans, Blues Historian.
**
"Say no more" said; themonk
**
01.Just Keep Loving Her
02.Five Foot Two Eyes Of Blue
03.Big Road Blues
04.Somebody Stole My Gal
05.And It Stoned Me
06.Ain´t Gotta Home
07.Good Gin Blues
08.It´s Your Fault
09.Walkin´ And Lookin´ Blues
10.Shakin´ That Thing
11.Shiver Me Timbers
12.How Can You Face Me
13.Come Back Baby (Let´s Talk It Over One More Time)
14.Walkin´ A Thightrope
15.Go Back To Your No Good Man
16.Sassy Mae
17.Forty Days & Forty Nights
18.Mystery Train
-
19.Gambler´s Blues
20.Church Street Shuffle
**
NoPassword
*
DLink
*
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario