Customer Reviews

Are You With Me Baby

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How good is this album? Well, it's giving Aimee Mann's "Bachelor #2" a run for it's money as Album of the Year at the (almost) mid-year point. But don't be fooled; this album has very little in common with the New Wave rockabilly of Billy's early 80's output, the country leanings that he has persued since '85's "Try Me" right up thru last year's "All Night Long" or his 90's pop sensabilities with Fleetwood Mac. So how would I classify this album? As flat-out, no-nonsense rock, dressed up with an earthy roots/rockabilly sheen. Mind you, Billy has never sounded better, both musically and vocally. There's an all out, no-holes-barred energy to this release that has not been there in the past. Said energy is evident on the lilting "What A Woman Feels", the barn burner "Life And Death" and the sly toetapper "Got A Little Rock In My Shoe (Can't Stop)". Other strong cuts include "Love Me Back" and "To Get Next To You". The only sour note for me on the CD is "Highway Of Love", a semi-duet with Bekka Bramlett; it just strikes me as an outtake from 1997's (very!) weak "Bekka and Billy" CD. I would have much rather had a killer ballad with Christine McVie along the lines of 1985's "It Ain't Over" or the 1990 Fleetwood Mac gem "Do You Know", one of the best "undiscovered" recordings of the last twenty-five years. But that's nitpicking. This is a great album, full of hip-shaking, boot-stomping (and we're talking black, greasy, leather engineer boots vs. armadillo cowboy ones!) rock. Don't let this one slip thru the cracks!

Billy Burnette's new album sound like it was recorded by his famous father and uncle. In fact Billy dedicates the recording to Dorsey and Johnny.

For those of you who were expecting a country album, think again. This album rocks from beginning to end and even includes backup vocals from the inimitable Bekka Bramlett who partnered with Billy on their one and only album strangely titled "Bekka & Billy".

What a GREAT rockabilly/roots rock album this is! I bought this when it first came out but never got to write a review for it (because I don't normally write them) A lot of people jumped onto Memphis In Manhattan, and while this is a very good album, I think Are You With Me Baby is way better - overall production, the mix on the lead guitar, the "click" on the double bass and the tightness of the snare - all are perfect - a sound similar to the mix on the Stray Cat's "Rant'n'Rave".

The songs are very strong - "Are You With Me Baby" a great opening track with a great vocal by Billy. "Believe What You Say" really kicks! The harmonies remind me of the Sweet Inspirations backing "The King" and add a lot of fullness and power to an already great sound mix with the snare perfect in tone for kick-arse rockabilly and another great vocal by Billy. "To Get Next To You", one of the best songs on the album, has a great bluesy chord progression, a good turn-around from the standard I-IV-V progression, and a great double bass sound. "Didn't Start Living" - a reworking of "Train Kept a-Rollin'" - is the best song on the album - a GREAT raucous, power vocal, and THAT riff! - perfectly mixed guitar, double bass and drums makes you shiver! And since Billy's father and uncle (of course with Paul Burlinson on guitar) made "Memphis Rockabilly" (along with 3 other guys!) its only natural Billy would draw on that. Warning: if you are driving when this song comes on, turn it up loud at your own peril - you'll wanna put pedal to the metal and hit 5th....quick! "What a Woman Feels" has great country-rock like riff through the song, and again Billy's vocal is great, but this shows his craft as a songwriter, extending the word theme & chord progessions rather the rehashing the standard formula. "Life and Death" a terrific swamp blues that rocks hard and its chromatic riff makes it edgy. "Can't Get Over You" is strong with a great "chicken pickin'" guitar solo. "Highway of Love" is a departure, moody with a "jungle" style beat reminiscent of Bo Diddley. "Gimme You" is classic neo-rockabilly - great slappin' double bass and tight sounding snare, with sparse but strong guitar licks going into power chords in the chorus, a GREAT guitar solo and powerful vocals without shreaking. Perfect!

"Too much Information" is good, a country style rocker. "The Edge of Love" is different - and it will take a few listens to to grow on you - but it has great words (if you listen) (Not every song has to have the same rockabilly formula - you are allowed one ballad in a set!). "Got a Rock In My Shoe" is a shoe-tapping, more traditional sounding song and a fitting summary and finale to a great album that manages to display all the varieties of the genre (blues, country-rock, "Burnette Rockabilly" and Classic R'N'R) without any two tracks sounding the same, and show case Billy's vocal and songwriting, without standing in the shadows of his heritage. The artwork is very "HepCat" and definitive. BUY IT!!! You will be glad you did.

Energetic '50's-style sound will make you want to jump in the old convertible and go cruisin'. Billy had his hand in writing all but one of the fine songs in this collection. Plenty of fun stuff.

I really like this CD. It's just really fun to listen to. My favorite songs are "Love Me Back," "(Can't Stop) Got a Little Rock In My Shoe," and my very favorite: "Too Much Information." Take a listen.