Customer Reviews

Sweet Emotion: Songs of Aerosmith

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The bottom line is this CD delivers great music from start to finish. Most albums of this type end up sounding pointless,as in "why not just listen to the original?" This one brought something powerful and hungry to the party. Be amazed.

Great CD...Otis Clay sings his heart out on "Cryin" Lou Ann Barton owns "One Way Street"and Sugar Blue's harp solo could not be any better on Big 10" Record. Pine Top sounds great on Walk This Way. I love the CD art work. Over all it is a Fantastic get.

The album is very solid, I especially like Pine top Perkin's and Rust Zinn's version of Walk This Way and Tad Robinson's version of Draw The Line. Add it to your Aerosmith Collection it really makes you realize how talented the Toxic Twins and the rest of the band are.

To any fan who ever though Aerosmith left there roots behind. You need to add this release to your CD Library. Listen to this release, than relisten to Pump, Get A Grip, Nine Lives and Just Push Play and you will hear the Blues influence in the music. Although it's not right in your face like early Aerosmith. It's their to be appreciate, you just have to listen for it. I like each track on this one, their all really good Blues Covers of a nice selection of songs through out Aerosmith's career with a few surprises being Pink, Dude(Looks Like A lady), Last Child and One Way Street(Two songs that I really love from their early years). It would have been cool to have Aerosmith backing each artist up, but I'm not going to whine about it. Lastly, more importantly this release introduced me to a few of the Artists for the first time and made me want to purchase releases from Joanna Connor, Sugar Blue, Otis Clay, Lou Ann Barton, Cathy Richardson, Gerald McClendon and David "HoneyBoy" Edwards. Anytime a release can do that even as a Cover Project, being a fan I just got to say. Thank You Steven, Joe, Brad, Tom and Joey for not only allowing this project to be made but also released by Heavy Hip Mama.

I am an Aerosmith fan AND a blues fan, as well as musician myself. This is an awesome CD. It stands on its own as a blues piece, even if you don't know/like Aerosmith and it is a very interesting and innovative approach to style mixing. Especially the classic "Walk this way". My advice -- make CD mix (MP3?) withi the original, the Run DMC version and Sweet Emotion. This is the beginning of a great interpretation of classic rock.

These days, it seems like everyone's doing a tribute album. As you'd probably expect, most of them are a hit or miss affair. This one is no different. Sweet Emotion is the latest in the Blues on Fire series, the purpose of which is to celebrate the influence of the blues on major rock bands--in this case, Aerosmith. Sure, they've recorded a number of blues-based songs over their lengthy career. No argument there. The strange thing about this particular CD is that several of the artists and/or the songs they chose have nothing to do with the blues.

Take "Cryin'," for example. R&B great, Otis Clay does a fairly straightforward take on the song, but it's not even remotely a blues tune. Then there's Gerald McClendan's rendition of "Pink." You can't make me believe that with 21 albums of material to choose from, that this is only thing he could come up with. Of all the songs on the CD, most are performed fairly close to the originals. One of the few that isn't is Pinetop Perkins' delta blues version of "Walk This Way." Joined by Rusty Zinn on vocals and Ronnie Baker Brooks (son of Chicago bluesman Lonnie Brooks) on lead guitar, this is one few tracks on the CD where the artist(s) take a chance, getting into a Muddy Waters/John Lee Hooker-ish vibe.

The best track on Sweet Emotion is Lou Ann Barton's "One Way Street." Time and time again, Barton has proven her blues worthiness over the years, recording and touring with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Her vocals on the hard-hitting track literally ooze the blues. Ex-Foreigner vocalist, Lou Gramm contributes his rendition of "Back in the Saddle" with the help of Chicago harp legend, Sugar Blue. However, if you didn't see his name is the credits, you'd never know it was Gramm. His vocals sound nothing like they did when he was in his former band.

From here, we move to the epitome of pitiful--Kim McFarland's "Dream On." McFarland transforms the song into a hip-hop/r&b/gospel thing. Judging by the amount of oversinging at the end, she's been listening to a bit too much Christina Aguilera lately. The choir just makes things worse. Aerosmith fans may not be pleased with Donald Kinsey's "Sweet Emotion," but by the time they get to Crystal Taliefero's stomach-turning version of "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," they'll be lunging for the eject button. I've been a big fan of Taliefero's ever since I saw her steal the show at a Billy Joel concert a decade or so ago, but this is just awful. The last song on the CD is 'Honeyboy' Edwards' "Train Kept A-Rollin'." Accompanied by just a lone acoustic guitar, this song sums up what the blues are all about.

To sum things up, Sweet Emotion falls into the 'mixed bag' category. There are a few gems here and there, but that's about it. Unless you're a completist Aerosmith fan (in which case, you may be appalled when you hear some of these tracks) or a fan of the individual artists included here, skip this one.

This is by no means a 5 Star CD. It is not a total loss either. And there are moments that a blues fan and even an Aerosmith fan would enjoy. I have all five of the HOUSE of BLUES albums done in a similar vein. They feature blues players, past and present, some well known, some more obscure or on the fringes of "the Blues". Those recognize Dylan, Clapton, Janis, Zeppelin & the Stones in single disc sets. Each disc has fine moments. The Rolling Stones CD probably aces out Led Zep & the others as the best of the HoB rock-blues send ups. I'm not sure if HoB rejected this Aerosmith project, ran out of steam or money for these ideas or Heavy Hip Mama Records (who released this CD, but is no longer in business) copped to the idea and released it on their own, but it easily fits within the House of Blues Tribute series. So if you even remotely like blues-based rock covers, dig into the House of Blues similar lot for more like this.

That said, the production on this CD is very strong. The drums are way up in the mix, which I liked. As I've heard Keith Moon oft quoted: "If you want to play loud, hit the drums hard". Steven Tyler and the boys always liked it loud -even on ballads- and proud and most of the cuts here do not hold back. But I would say that a number of these tracks break Albert Collins cardinal rule: "No one leaves without singing the blues". While some of these artists may be reinterpreting the Boston based band's songs., songs such as "Dream On" are not necessarily blues, or a gospel singer (e.g. Kim McFarland) does not sing the blues. So what's the point on including that song or that singer?

Why not include a song such as "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" which would have worn nicely on a set such as this in the hands of a competent player such as Robert Cray. Or how about the Stone-sy "Round and Round" taken on by someone such as North Mississippi All Stars. Pairing up bluesier Aerosmith songs with artists who bring energy to the blues did not always happen on this project, and it suffers for it.

What's great comes right out of the gate. OTIS CLAY is in fine voice. He, along with Solomon Burke, is one of the few R&B soul-sters that are still out there making contemporary rhythm and blues music. When he comes thru Chicago from time to time, he is excellent live. CLAY sings his ace off on this version on recent vintage Aerosmith,"CRYIN". It is great when "Screamin' Demon" Tyler rips into it and OTIS CLAY pulls off the strongest vocal performance on the CD. Super, faithful and original all at once.

Some have scoffed at the legendary PINETOP PERKINS take on "WALK THIS WAY", but the way I figure it, when a 90 year old pianist sings about "going down on a muffin", you have to give the old ivory tickler his props. PINETOPS version won't make you throw out your copy of "TOYS" or even unload RUN DMC, but it is a fun spin on the old warhorse and a nicely laid down tune. RONNIE BAKER BROOKS (son of Lonnie Brooks) accompanies on gee-tar., and anyone related to the Lonnie Brooks clan knows his way around the blues.

CATHY RICHARDSON, what can I say? I knew of the CATHY RICHARDSON BAND playing around the Midwest. Another Lonnie Brooks offspring, WAYNE BAKER BROOKS, is welcomed in with open arms. There rendition of "LAST CHILD" is not a blues sounding song. In fact this cover does not veer far from the original at all, but who cares it is Soooo Good! This version ROCKS! And rocks HARD! I loved this and it dang nears overtakes OTIS for top dog on this CD. The drums pound, the guitar shreds. This is heavy metal thunder. Loved it. Makes me want to call up all my friends and blast it into their cell phones good and loud. LAST CHILD...first choice.

Nothing else on the CD stands out, quite like those moments for me off the disc.

But JOE LOUIS WALKER is always dependable and I enjoyed "RAG DOLL".

LOU ANN BARTON seemed a little out of place on "ONE WAY STREET" but she does not back down, so good for her for belting out a few bars.

I do find fault with MARSHALL CRENSHAW singing "BIG TEN INCH". He is a personal favorite of mine so I got exciting knowing he was on here. Grant it, he has no real kinship to blues music. To be brutally honest, like several of the artist on this set, he sounded like he swallowed Howlin Wolf's voice box. Trying to mimic the Wolfman's gruff vocal pattern doesn't make you a blues artist. I'd have invited the late Johnnie Johnson or even Little Richard to rip it up on this one...if I ruled the world.
It may have seemed like a good choice for Marshall, but it doesn't sound like authentic blues, it doesn't sound like the originator of this ol' chestnut himself, Bull Moose Jackson. It does sound more like just plain bull, Marshall.

Back to Gospel singer KIM McFARLAND. This I don't understand. This song would fit much better on an adult contemporary radio station delicately programmed between Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey. Her reading of DREAM ON has more in kin with U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" or "I Want to Know What Love Is", by Foreigner.

Speaking of Foreigner, there is a LOU GRAMM appearance on his tepid take on "BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN". Sounds more like a horse with no name, I'm afraid. Come complete with average bar band backing. The drumming is loud, but GRAMM brings nothing new to this song. His voice non-descript. GRAMM is teamed with SUGAR BLUE, but SUGAR's exquisite harmonica talents seem lost on this and another cut he guests on. Too bad, SUGAR usually blows harp like hell. But I haven't seen this much wasted blow since SUGAR BLUE was spotted doing lines of coke with his daddy in the Men's Room at ROSA's Blues Club in Chicago, back in the '80s.

"PINK" was loud, but GERALD McCLENDON is not really playing the blues. It was a serviceable song.

"DRAW THE LINE" by TAD ROBINSON, pass.

DONAL KINSEY reports in on "SWEET EMOTION", the report is not memorable.

"DUDE (LOOKS LIKE A LADY) but she sure can't sing, is my response to CRYSTAL TALIEFERO. Where did they find her, it is the lowest moment on the CD.

DAVID "HOMEBOY" EDWARDS closes out the recording with a delta-blues rendering of Johnny Burnett's early southern rock rave up "TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN". I am not a huge fan of acoustic blues, so for me this train barely moans out of the station as the album grinds to a slow chug.

Like many of these type of CD honoring rock and roll heavy weights, if you can get a used copy on the cheap and can sort thru the good with the bad blues covers of rock standards this may be for you. Get a 5-disc CD changer and program in the gems and leave the duds in the attic.

Sweet Emotion is a great CD from start to finish. The album is filled with soul and emotion. A MUST HAVE!

unlike the reviewer below, i kind of like the gospel version of "dream on." it's cheesy and doesn't have the soul of real gospel, but it still plays well with the lyrics: "maybe tomorrow the good lord will take you away." but yeah, this is bad. none of the spark of the originals. it's filled with tepid blues-rock that's so prevalent these days. it did, however, make me realize how good a blues album by aerosmith could be.

Unlike the similar blues tribute to Led Zep, this is not a triumph from start to finish. Some seem like they were done in one take and offer very little in the translation. EG, Train was a very poor acoustic country blues take which harkens back to Leadbelly, minus the passion and virtuosity. Pink and Cryin fall into the "just listen to the original" category and seem to be lazy interpretations.

On the other hand, One Way Street is excellent and brings back the small club early seventies feel of the Aerosmith shows from that era. Dream On is a very interesting take - all you ask from a CD of this type is something unique to bring something different to the music and Dream on delivers. Rag Doll is excellent, maybe superior to Aerosmith's. I also enjoyed the altered cadence and soul backup in Dude Looks Like a Lady.

All in all, worthwile to own if you can make a mix cd out of the best offerings from this and the similar Led Zep tribute.