Well, where do I start? I’ll just begin by saying that this new album by Mike Sanchez and Knockout Greg and Blue weather is truly something special.
But I can’t let it rest at that; let’s clue you a bit more. Greger Andersson and the band who make up Blue Weather hail from Sweden and although I’ve not managed to catch them live so far (that will however be remedied at the upcoming Rhythm Riot) I’m familiar with an excellent album released on Tail records in 2000 entitled “The Wig Flipper”, so should you be too, they are great.
Mike’s been a fan since the late 90’s and in his brief note within the wonderfully packaged CD (digipack form) he states that work on this album commenced at the end of 2001.
So to the music; their version of Big “T” Tyler’s “King Kong” is quite remarkable, your jaw, dear reader, will fall to the ground and your tongue will hang out; Tyler’s original reigns supreme, but only just. The sound engineering by Per Anghvist on this and the rest of the CD deserves special mention; just listen to the sound of Wynonie Harris’ “All She Wants To Do Is Rock”, one wonders if this was recorded at the King studio in Cincinnati rather than Real Music studios, in Bromma, Sweden. It’s noticeable that Mike tries and generally succeeds, in replicating the singing styles of his idols (e.g. Roy Brown on “Cadillac Baby” and Percy Mayfield on “The Voice Within’”) and does a particularly good job on Billy Emerson’s “If Lovin’ Is Believing” (how about “Shim Sham Shimmy” on the next one, Mike?).
Jimmy Liggins’ “Drunk” impresses mightily, as does the title track, originally recorded by the Nite Riders and issued, I think, on Apollo. The version of Leiber & Stoller’s “Hot Dog” owes more to Young Jessie than Elvis Presley, while Bad Weather go it alone on a tasty T-Bone stroll. Five of the set’s songs emanate from Mike’s pen, all strong compositions, particular favourites being “Easy Boogie” and “You Gonna Win”, the latter bearing a Chicago influence.
By the way, as an added bonus, there are nearly 20 minutes of out-takes which, apart from alternative takes of “King Kong”, and “Strollin’ With Bones”, include two great stabs at Richard Berry’s classic New Orleans rocker “Yama Yama Pretty Mama” and a fine version of Lloyd Price/Larry William’s “Just Because”. Congrats to all on a terrific CD which I unreservedly recommend.
--“CD” Clark