Customer Reviews

Goin Home

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

 

 

This album deserves to be heard. This is my first review for Amazon. "Goin' Home" is a gem of an album that should be in the collection of anyone who cares about quality music. Paul Rishell is one of only a handful of contemporary masters of pre-war blues guitar. Annie Raines' harp fits his playing like a hand to a glove. They breath life into little known classics. Within their version of "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" you can hear the original, updated with a full band, and overlaid with tasteful slide guitar. Slide guitar takes a different tone, but also stands out, on the wistful "You've Got It Made." "Memphis Town," an old Scrapper Blackwell/Leroy Carr tune, is infectious from the first piano chords. The duo is able to make old songs real and fresh for a new generation of listeners. The song writing on their originals is so solid and timeless that the transition from a classic song to an original is seamless and transparent. Annie Raines' harp steps forward and shines on "Candy" and "Lookin' Good." Paul Rishell's guitar playing is so gifted that his skills as a vocalist might be overlooked. His singing is genuine and heartfelt. On an earlier album they covered Charlie Patton's "Some of These Days." "Goin' Home" contains a live version of the same song. While this song is a personal favorite, it is remarkable how his vocal rendition has changed and grown over time.
The care taken in producing this album is obvious. It is a rare thing these days to find an album that is this solid from start to finish. Again, "Goin' Home" is a real gem. This album has to be an award winner. It is a 'must have', chicken skin music.

The only thing I can think of better then this CD of Paul and Annie is to see them live. WOW what a show. Good stuff from two talented people. Do yourself a favor, see them live!!

I could not believe there was only one review, so I thought I better add another one. This sentance from the product description pretty much says is all "Discriminating fans of roots music in southern New England have known it for years.". It's true; the first time I saw them I was blown away. If you like the old steel sound, the harmonica guitar duo, or just great music, you should get this and then try to see them in concert. This is a pairing like Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, but they get along much better. Professional and Hot, and for Annie that's hot in several ways. Check them out, you can thank me later.