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Tommy Ridgley: Since the Blues Began |
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Thursday, 09 February 2006 08:32 |
Tommy Ridgley
Since the Blues Began
BlackTop BT-1115
By John Sinclair
Tommy Ridgley, the original Shrewesbury Kid, has enjoyed a long and extremely fruitful recording career since cutting his first session on November 29, 1949 as vocalist with the Dave Bartholomew Band.
Music lovers treasure his classic Imperial, Atlantic and Herald singles, his series of excellent sides for Ric Records in the early 1960s, his string of obscure one-off recordings for a variety of small New Orleans labels in the 70s and 80s, and his CDs for Sound of New Orleans Records and Modern Blues Recordings in the 1990s.
Now Tommy weighs in at the age of 69 with his finest product to date, a star-studded set of new tunes, fresh remakes and rearranged favorites produced by Hammond Scott for BlackTop Records.
Everything is in perfect order here, starting with Tommy's precision vocalizing and continuing through the work of the session musicians, the tune selection, the arrangements and the sound of the production itself.
Seriously, Tommy has never sounded better: his mature artistry and infallible sense of timing shine through every selection, and his interaction with the supporting cast is a joy to behold.
The principal band (on seven cuts) features Snooks Eaglin's impeccable guitar, Sammy Berfect's keyboards and the unbeatable rhythm section of Shannon Powell and Erving Charles Jr. A second unit with Snooks, Sammy Berfect, David Torkanowsky, George Porter Jr. and Raymond Weber takes over for five numbers, and guitarist Cranston Clements makes a couple of key appearances.
Tommy and Snooks sparkle on up-dates of popular local hits like "I've Heard That Story Before," "Let's Try to Talk It Over" and "In the Same Old Way." New tunes like "The World Is Our Stage," "Pretty Lady," "Running After You," "Your Love Is All I Need" and the splendid "About My Past" demonstrate Tommy's continuing growth as a composer. Even his obscure disco tune, "Shack Up with Me," has a certain charm missing from the original.
The title track, written by Jody Siegel, sounds tailor-made for Tommy, and the stand-out of the set for this writer is Mr. Ridgley's sensitive, hard-swinging reading of the Little Willie John hit, "Heartbreak," served up in a typically tasteful Edward Frank arrangement.
Speaking of swing and good taste, a word must be added on behalf of the flawless drive and admirable restraint evidenced by the horn section here, led by Kaz Kazanoff and including Tony Dragradi and Ward Smith on saxophones, Steve Howard's trumpet and Rick Trolsen's trombone. Dagradi is particularly thrilling in his intro and solo for "Running After You."
Since the Blues Began is, quite simply, a first-rate rhythm & blues record made by a top-flight artist at the peak of his form. It takes its place with the modern Hamnmond Scott productions on Snooks Eaglin and Earl King as an indispensible addition to your New Orleans music collection.
--New Orleans
1995
(c) 1995, 2006 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved.
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