Customer Reviews

Ronnie Earl & Friends

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How? It truly is simple. BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!! If you are already into electric guitar blues with piano and harmonica, then you most likely already own this album or need to ASAP! If you are new to the blues genre or are looking for an ideal album to introduce someone to the blues, then this CD is IT!!! Ronnie Earl, blues guitarist extraordinaire, has absolutely outdone himself by assembling on short notice some of the best and brightest blues players alive today. He hoped to just jam together for a few days in Woodstock and create some recorded magic the way great musicians did on Delmark label recorded off-the-cuff jams late night during the 1960s. This album is proof that they succeeded beyond Ronnie's wildest dreams! James Cotton plays harmonica that will give you goosebumps the size of welts, Levon Helm gives class on how blues drumming should be done, Luther Johnson croons a few vocals while plunking his guitar brilliantly, David Maxwell tickles the piano keys with pure joy, Kim Wilson belts out vocals and harmonica, while Irma Thomas sings her soulful best on two songs that could kill with delight a weak-hearted listener! Jimmy Mouradian gets occasional help on bass from Michael "Mudcat" Ward while Paul Marrochello and Tim "Juice" O'Connor add rhythm guitar to an inspired update of "Viet Cong Blues" called "New Vietnam Blues" paying tribute to veterans. There is not a weak cut on this album with "Mighty Fine Boogie" being my personal favorite. Ronnie Earl had battled with depression the two years before recording this classic but, I'm sure the result has him now grinning from ear to ear!

Like I said earlier, BUY THIS ALBUM!!! You will not regret it ever!

Ronnie Earl is one of the guitar greats of the last decades, producing some magnificent music with his band the Broadcasters. Since his days in Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl Horvath has surrounded himself with some fabulous sidemen: Kim Wilson,Sugar Ray Norcia,Darrell Nulisch,Jerry Portnoy,Michael Ward etc. His emotional playing has had a tremendous impact on his peers over the years. From the mid-nineties he explored instrumental blues and jazz, fuelled by the organ of Bruce Katz, and guests such as tenorman David Newman. He even brought such jazz staples as "Round Midnight" to new heights and his rendition of "Amazing grace" on the CD Healing Time is sheer excellence and some of the most beautiful music that can be heard. This CD brings him back to mostly vocal blues with singers Kim Wilson,Irma Thomas and Luther Johnson. This is the first straight blues CD since "Eye to Eye" with members from Muddy Waters late band. The result is some of the best Chicago blues in this decade where Ronnie gets to add his signature stingin guitar lines and licks to a genre that seldom is heard these days. Little Walter's "Last night" is played in an acoustic setting with Kim's vocals and harp producing an emotional anguish that really hits home. On "All your love" Luther Johnson is belting out the soul and James Cotton is doubling on harmonica with Kim on "Mighty Fine Boogie". This is old-school blues, with no hints of compromise! David Maxwell is pumping out piano lines and the rhythm section, including the Band's Levon Helm, makes sure the beat is on. As the follow up to last year's Healing Time, this CD is a welcome comeback for all fans of Ronnie's blues, and despite recent years battle with health it is great to hear his soulful guitar playing once again in this setting. May Ronnie be able to continue playing his healing music for a very long time.

First I have to say, that I love all of Ronnies work, even his "elevator-music" jazz escapades. But with this record he goes back to traditional blues at its best. He plays - as usual - wonderful guitar and his sound is wonderful. But this record is a real 5 star record, maybe one best releases in this year, because of all the musicians on this record and their joy by playin the blues - Kim Wilson, Irma Thomas, James Cotton to name a few, play with Ronnie and you can feel the friendship between them.
If you love the early records of Ronnie, buy it and you'll play it over and over.

I'm a big blues fan, and an even bigger Ronnie Earl fan. But I'm giving this effort at most four stars because I would recommend it only to the more hard core Ronnie/blues fans. This effort is basically a solid after hours blues jam between some very talented people, but is definitely not a Ronnie Earl album in the mold of "Healing Time", "Colour of Love", or the sensational "Live Virtuoso in Europe" albums, as it doesn't feature Ronnie carrying the weight (and the vibe) but instead acts as a vehicle for Ronnie to return to his roots as a superb sideman.

The standout tracks here are "I'll Take Care of You/Lonely House" (with a superbly phrased vocal by Irma Thomas and great cymbal delicacy by Levon Helm) and the instrumental "Twenty-Five Days" (which is most like the vibe and content of the last few Ronnie releases). Most of the other tracks are good solid blues efforts, showcasing Ronnie's ability as a great blues sideman, and also some very good harp interplay between Kim Wilson and James Cotton. There's no Hammond B-3 on this disc (which I now associate as an integral element of the Earl sound), but there is some very nice barrelhouse blues piano by David Maxwell.

So continued improved health to Ronnie (he's had a rough couple of years - my love and support to him), and let's encourage him to maybe stretch his talent to the jazz side next time - his soulful tone and his incredible taste and note selection is well showcased in that genre!

A truly wonderful cd by a master of blues guitar. He surrounds himself with guests who like him know how to expres the blues. If you want some excellent music, pick up this cd It will not disappoint you. A blues lover!

Something for everyone here! I've known Ronnie for several years now, and I never knew he teamed up with Levon Helm!! Talk about Star Power, Ronnie has drawn in some potent contributions from some very gifted friends to craft this collection of stirring tunes! Dig in and enjoy over an hour with Ronnie and his friends!

For those unfamiliar with Ronnie Earl, he's an outstanding guitar player who specializes in blues, but with a jazzy sound many times. He doesn't sing, so his albums are either instrumental or - as in this case - he has guest artists do the singing for him.

What you get in this CD is a real mixed bag, a both material, singing and instrumentation. Just look at a few of the guests, if you question how well-known Mr. Earl is in the business: James Cotton, James `Guitar Junior" Johnson, Kim Wilson, Iram Thomas and Levon Helm, just to name a handful.

My favorite, by far, is "New Vietnam Blues" with Thomas singing a haunting tribute to the under-appreciated soldirs. The song features the typically-amazing guitar work of Earl and an un-typically message of "thanks." As with the lyrics of that song, Earl is his own man, musically and lyrically which is one reason he has so many friends in the business.

This was my "introdution" to Ronnie Earl, and I'll be anxious to check out more of his work.

Ronnie Earl is arguably at his best playing the blues - his West Coast/Santana-style jazz fusion never seems to come off as well. With the possible exception of the somewhat corny New Vietnam Blues, this is an album of classy, real blues. The excellent band displays plenty of pizazz that reflects joy and togetherness at the recording sessions. The sound quality is absolutely stunning, it will really show off your system.

Lets thank Ronnie for inviting his friends to the studio !
This is a special recording which oozes with class and soul. After overcoming the initial shock of realising the album is not instrumental (in keeping with Ronnie's recent releases, including the manificent last release, "Healing Time") and indeed only contains 3 instrumental numbers of the 13 on the album, the virtuosity of the vocals are a treat in themselves. Whilst Irma Thomas adds great depth of soul on her numbers (including one of the album highlight numbers, "I'll Take Care of You/Lonely Avenue"), for me the surprise comes with Kim Wilson's vocals - absolutely terrific and some of the best performed by him that I've heard.
The linear notes explain well the concept this album tried to capture and stress that it should be considered not a Ronnie Earl solo album but a 'work of Ronnie Earl and friends'. The result is an album of exceptional musicianship throughout and demonstrates the respect the players have for one anothers abilities. It is a great acknowlegement by Ronnie and a gesture of modesty by him that he is content to be a "team player" (reminiscent of the great Duke Robbillard) on this recording.
An album that brings listen pleasure at every playing.

I am happy to have been brought back into the blues fold by people like Ronnie Earl. Great music. Great playing.