Hoo Doo Party

The Bel Airs

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 30, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 30, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B00003TFXK
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,737 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #76 in

  Music > Indie Music > Blues > Traditional Blues

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Living on the road and playing clubs from "Austin to Boston", the BelAirs are carrying on the tradition of American Rhythm and Blues. Now based in Columbia, Missouri, the BelAirs are easily one of the hottest and most entertaining blues bands in the country.

Brothers Dick and David Pruitt front the band on bass and electric guitars. Drummer Michael Cherry is well known for his powerful groove. David's "big guitar" sound and Dick's howling vocals over soulful rhythm playing make this trio a powerhouse. BAND_MEMBERS: Dick Pruitt: vocals, bass guitar David Pruitt: vocals, guitar, slide guitar Michael Cherry: drums

Product Description
From the funky cover art courtesy of Charlie Johnson's "Museum of the Odd" to the final acoustic cut of "House On Fire", The Bel Airs' third recording 'Hoo Doo Party' is a solid slice of wild and wonderful American pie. Nothing about the Bel Airs fits into a neat category except their well-deserved reputation for house-rockin' live shows and solid musicianship. 'Hoo Doo Party' delivers the energy and the groove fans have come to expect from the Bel Airs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HooDoo Party, January 14, 2000

By	Betsy Finocchi (Fayetteville, Arkansas) - See all my reviews

One of the things that makes The BelAirs so unbelievably cool is their stage presence and energy. Brothers Dick and Dave play funky old beat-up guitars (Dick's favorite is a `68 Fender Jazz bass, and Dave alternates between his `53 Telecaster and `65 Gibson 175), they're snappy dressers and Man, do they play it and sing it from the heart! So - although I knew the CD would be good - I was a little concerned that it wouldn't live up to their live show.

Well, I guess the guys in The BelAirs are pretty clever, because they'd already thought of that. They've made up for the lack of visuals and visceral energy by inviting along a line-up of guest musicians who add more to the recording with piano, horns and organ. Although, frankly, we prefer the three-man sound, adding to a recording is always a safe bet.

The CD opens with the title track, HooDoo Party, which is a jumpin' New Orleans number, and goes right into one of my favorites, Strange Things. ("Hey Baby, I sure do like what I see. Hey Baby, I sure do like what I see. Everytime I look at you, Strange Things happen to me.") My other favorite is Take This Hurt Off Me - the harmonies and interesting breaks make this cut a big winner - sort of a Van Morrison-style song that you'll be singing along to by the end of the first time hear it.

This is old blues, New Orleans-style jazzy blues, and, like bassist Dick Pruitt says, just plain ol' "Americana." Whatever you call it, we like it - a lot. After you've heard them live, you're definitely going to want to buy a CD - and you will not be disappointed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great stuff, October 29, 2000

By A Customer

stickin with the finest players coming out of the midwest, these guys have a sound that make the BEST Alligator artists sound DIM. Fantastic CD.... needs to be on the radio. Keep up the good work.

5.0 out of 5 stars party is right!, June 1, 2009

By	W. Landis (des moines, iowa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

got a chance to see the bel airs at a friends birthday party recently, actually got the chance to introduce them to the crowd. great guys! and man oh man, can they play some blues! a tight trio. precision intstrumentals, no extra notes, no missed notes. fantastic harmonies exactly where they are needed. get it, enjoy it. if you get a chance to see them live, do it!