Customer Reviews

Sweet Potato Pie

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

 

 

The structure of this cd is similar in some ways to "strong persuader". The stuff i like the best is at the beginning and the end with the middle a little soft and sweet just like sweet potatoe pie. The first cut "nothing against you" is my favorite cray song and one of my favorites period. You just want to get up and move with the eb and flow and cray's voice rings out and the extensive guitar solo is scintillating. You will want to listen to that song over and over again. Good thing too because you may want to bypass the second cut, "do that for me". That song is a cheap, silly song not worthy of mr. cray's talent. The cd continues with soulful sweet r&b that is easy and enjoyable to listen to. Cray's voice is perfect for this otis redding type material and #6 trick or treat is an actual redding song. That song will take you back and the memphis horns provide a nice touch with the piano. "Simple things" is a great love song and has a little touch of reggae. Cray's voice is sweet as honey and oh so smoooooooooooth. "Jealous minds" is a nice up tempo rock number and "not bad for love" will put you in blues heaven. The guitar solo on that song is all laid back deep southern blues. Cray sings with all his soul. The cd finishes with my second favorite song, "i can't quit". An inspiring energetic piece that you hope will never end.

I'm pretty much a hard core fan of high energy electric blues. There is something about robert cray and his soulful, r&b tinged sound that grabs me. This cd especially is addictive. I like strong persuader but i listen to sweet potatoe pie much more.

Never being all THAT much of a blues fan,I must admit,this man knows his craft and he knows it well.His guitar work on this record is just as amazing as his vocals.All ten tracks are very well written and produced.Cuts that made me sit up and take notice were "Little Birds","I Can't Quit","Not Bad For Love" and "Simple Things".Nice modern-day electric blues.Also notice he does a cover of the late Otis Redding's "Trick Ot Treat".Very good.Should appeal to fans of Buddy Guy,Jimmy Vaughan,Keb Mo' and maybe Eric Clapton.Worth checking out.

Robert Cray gives us yet another R&B sounding album here that doesnt miss the mark. "The One In The Middle" is a soulful plea of love gone away that really shows off Cray's great vocal talents. "Little Birds", "Back Home", "Nothing Against You", also fit this description. Crays vocals tend to overlooked becasue of his guitar playing, but he does have a great voice and on this album it shows. The Otis Redding song, "Trick or Treat", is a little more upbeat than the others I mentioned and Cray does this song some justice. You can compare this albums sound to Otis Redding's, that is how the music comes accross. This is a more soul and R&B sounding album as compared to "Strong Persuader". I think that any Cray fan will enjoy this album

Robert Cray has never shirked from the challenge of bringing new dimensions to the limited range of the blues. These extra musical dimensions have always come from R&B and soul, as obviously these musical genres have very strongly influenced Cray. So, it's no surprise that an album like Sweet Potato Pie should occur. This is a strong album that has more akin to Midnight Stroll than Strong Persuader or Shame + A Sin, calling our attention to the Stax/Volt era of R&B evolution. It's also no surprise that the name of Otis Redding should come up in the credits. "Trick or Treat" is a wonderful Redding cover, and the whole album pays homage to Redding as Cray exercises his best soulful vocal impersonation of the late lamented soul singer throughout. Overall, a strong effort and a soulful step in the right direction.

This one will sneak up on you. Cray is a wonderful performer with an expressive vocal style that really sells a song. "Do That for Me," has a wicked vocal, harkening back to the classic soul of Marvin Gaye. Utilizing the Memphis Horns throughout adds to the sweetness of this CD; Cray just sounds like he's having a great time. Mostly Cray originals mixed with a great Redding cover "Trick or Treat," SWEET POTATO PIE is a great example of Cray the singer. I do wish he would have ripped into a few more solos, but that's a minor point. This is a nice example of Robert Cray's work.

I was really impressed by Robert Crays latest offering 'Sweet Potato Pie' and it is certainly one to grow on you. While it doesn't offer up the quick thills of a 'Strong Persuader' or 'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark' it is another self assured and consistent effort which will please fans. Though it combines both upbeat rocking numbers as well as slower ballads - it is the down tempo and reflective tracks such as 'Not Bad For Love','Simple Things' and 'Little Birds' that really hit home.

This latest Cray album leans more toward the Stax/Volt soul sound than straight blues (as on his earlier "Midnight Stroll"), but Cray's honest, smooth vocals, clever phrases, and of course the scintillating guitar work, are all present and accounted for. Good backup horns and strong drumming lend punch to the sound. A must for fans of blues or soul.

This entire CD is awesome. Some of the very best blues I've ever heard.