Center Stage

The Ford Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 9, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Rock'it Records
• ASIN: B00067RERY
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,447 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mellow Down Easy

2. Another Fine Day

3. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

4. Nothing To Nobody

5. Tired of Talkin’

6. Feelin' Disconnected

7. Up From The Streets

8. Lovin’ Cup

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Blues Family, October 7, 2005

By 

A. James Santella "Jim Santella" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Center Stage (Audio CD)

Back in the early 1970s, three brothers fresh out of high school formed the Charles Ford Blues Band in San Francisco and jump-started careers that have never slowed down. The band was named after their father. As their careers blossomed, Robben, Patrick and Mark Ford found that it wasn't so easy to get together. Over the years, their separate schedules have kept each one busy, but they do find time to get together occasionally to play. With guitarist Volker Strifler and guest guitarist Chris Cain, the three brothers get together on this album in an up-tempo celebration of their heritage. Patrick plays drums, Robben plays guitar, and Mark wails on harmonica.

Robben sings his original, "Nothing to Nobody," a drifting blues ballad about families and how much we mean to each other. As he stretches out with an extended guitar solo, you can appreciate the contributions that he's given to the blues over the years. He offers as much expression through his guitar as he does when interpreting these poignant lyrics. Each track was recorded before a live audience for broadcast on the PBS television series Sierra Center Stage. Without a doubt, the Ford Brothers have the blues in their blood and celebrate their heritage in style.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Blues, Bad Arrangement, March 26, 2005

By 

Gary W. Rice (Fenton, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Center Stage (Audio CD)

This is another excellent outing by the Fords and their family blues band. I really enjoyed Patrick's last CD (minus Robben and Mark but Volker Strifler on guitar and Andy Just on harp are great) called "Another Fine Day".

This live adventure combines them all and provides a number of upbeat, lively blues tunes. Particular standous are "Lovin' Cup", "Feelin' Disconnected" and "Mellow Down Easy". The others are very good as well.

However, my primary beef is how the tunes are presented. The very first song is Mellow Down Easy and it is obvious from Mark Ford's comments that they are well into their second set. Also, at the end of this first song, you hear him saying that they have to go. I don't wish to say that the recording has to follow the concert set exactly but geesh...at least try to help me feel like I am at a live gig. The rest of the presentation seems disjointed as well. On my copy, "Lovin' Cup" is labeled as #8 but on the CD it just continues right into this song after #7 "Up From the Streets" is completed.

However, despite these problems, this CD has some very good blues music that is played with energy and the tunes are well performed. I highly recommend the music.