Nature of the Beast

Clarence Spady | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 1996)
• Original Release Date: September 3, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Evidence
• ASIN: B0000014QB
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,881 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Baby Baby Baby

2. Answer To The Man

3. Change My Way Of Livin'

4. Nature Of The Beast

5. Bad Axe

6. Built For Comfort

7. Picture Of Love

8. Hi Heeled Sneakers

9. A Good Fool Is Hard To Find

10. Blues Walk

11. Gospel Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Album, Tragic Story, February 7, 2003

By 

Philip Yurkon (Tempe, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nature of the Beast (Audio CD)

I have had the good fortune of living near Spady. The River Street Jazz Café, where Spady routinely plays and has recently celebrated his 15th year playing there, is only a few miles from my parents' home in Exeter, PA. Also, my guitar teacher back there has studied and gigged with Spady, so this is the story as I've been told.

After listening to this album, it's no wonder why he was given a deal. Spady received accolades here in the states and in Europe. But sadly, his use of drugs, as noted in songs like "Nature of the Beast" and "Change My Way of Living", unraveled his career. Spady's band eventually left him after he would fail to appear at out of state gigs and he would be in and out of jail on a regular basis. Spady still gigs frequently in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, where he is regarded amongst local musicians as the hippest cat that'll ever grace the stages at local bars.

In light of his unfortunate demise, there's no doubting his talent. Spady has upstaged the likes of Buddy Guy at blues festivals and has earned the respect of legends like Robben Ford. He has flaked on gigs in prominent New York night clubs and still gets booked because he's such a huge draw. During breaks in his sets in NYC it isn't uncommon for him to be hassled for his autograph from people with British and French accents, some people not even speaking English. Although "Nature of the Beast" is a great album, it's really nothing compared to him live. When you see him live and he plays his super-funky version of "Se La Vie", then turns it around into "Cissy Strut" and finishes the trio with his original "Riding in Fast Cars", you're left breathless and wanting more.

"Nature of the Beast" shows Spady's potential. This is more of an R&B album, more than it is a blues album, as seen with tunes like "Baby Baby Baby", "A Good Fool is Hard to Find", and "Bad Axe". Spady takes some good solos in this album, but his rhythms really make the album, along with some great help from the band. Unlike many other blues musicians, Clarence uses many influences in his playing. He has bits of every type of good black music in his playing, from traditional blues, to jazz, to funk, to gospel, to R&B. Clarence is so good that he never gives it 100% when he's being recorded because he doesn't want anyone copying his licks. One must take that into consideration when listening to this album.

All in all, this is a wonderful album and is enough to give me my Spady fix while I'm away from home. If you're in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area of PA, be sure to see if he's playing. A live experience will send you to heaven, and you'll leave knowing exactly what I mean when I say that his album really is nothing compared to him live. Even in light of the fact that he gigs as a three-piece now, with Bob O'Connel on keys and Sharon Smith on drums, he always pulls it off better than the album, no easy task. And lets's hold on to some hope that maybe, just maybe he'll change his way of living and record another album and follow up on it this time. There's no doubt in my mind that if he wanted it, Clarence would be the next big thing, the next SRV, the next Robben Ford, the next guitar hero.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoking Hammond, March 21, 2001

By 

Kevin Ruben (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nature of the Beast (Audio CD)

I saw this band at a club called the Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach, VA. This is one amazing blues band. This CD is a pretty good representation of their live performance - although there is nothing like hearing a live Hammond B3 (actually it's a modified A100 with 2 Leslie cabinets) - not only is Mark Hamza amazing at accompaniment and soloing, but he plays the bass pedals with his feet - there is no bassist! Tight drummer, and the bari sax is a great addition. Clarence plays some great blues standards and originals; he is a very soulful blues guitarist/singer. If you open the liner notes, you'll see his 80-something-year-old Dad smoking with a beer in his hand. He goes on tour with his son for moral support. Sure enough, at the Jewish Mother, his Dad was at the bar. This CD is definitely worth owning.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Waiting for the next Jewel, April 10, 2004

By 

David A. Lach (Glen Mills, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nature of the Beast (Audio CD)

I have seen and spoken to Clarence on several occasions. He is the best I have ever seen in concert. From Blues to Jazz , R&B to soul Spady delivers each and every time. Mark Hamza is an astounding musician as well and together they create a unique sound all their own. I for one have been waiting for the sequel to Nature of the Beast, truly one of the reasons why they named them jewel cases.