THE COUNTRY SIDE OF HARMONICA SAM - OPEN LETTER TO THE BLUES

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1. A Double Shot Of Heartache   2. Forbidden Wine   3. Farther Than My Eyes Can See   4. It's Such A Pretty World Today   5. I Regret It Every Day   6. That's Why I Sing In A Honky Tonk   7. Open Letter To The Blues   8. I'm Walking Slow   9. We Have Strayed So Far Away   10. Followed Closely By My Teardrops   11. The Day I Let Him In   12. The Storm Within My Heart   13. Dying A Little Every Day Is Killing Me   14. I'm Down To My Last Cigarette

El Toro Records / ETCD 6068

Terrific! What a great record! I loved this record from the very first time I played it. Really, what a very good record by the Swedish singer and band members. I knew Harmonica Sam for his Rhythm'n'Blues side: he is very good in Rhythm'n'Blues and Rock'n'Roll, but this step to Country music has been well done, showing a good knowledge of the field he was entering in. After listening to the CD, I feel that Harmonica Sam took the way knowing for sure where he was going to. Doing and not trying.

From the very first notes of the very first song ("A Double Shot Of Heartache") I felt I was listening to a 50's or early 60's Hillbilly band and I kept that feeling up to the last song ("I'm Down To My Last Cigarette"). Pure good old Hillbilly, Honky Tonk, with a Baskerfild Sound feeling and, why not saying it, sometimes Dwight Yoakam's first records coming to my mind.

I'll say it again: it is a very good record indeed, with not a single bad song in it. Fourteen great songs going from uptempo to ballads, including a mixture of own compositions (such as "I Regret It Every Day") and well chosen covers (like "Farther Than My Eyes Can See"). It would be unfair to highlight any of them among the others as all are great songs, very well played.

Believe me, please: if you like old style Country & Western, you'll love this record. If not... this is the record to start loving it. By the way, all the good words and praises witten by Deke Dikerson in the booklet are well deserved by the band and are an act of justice.

Their share of applause has to be given as well to El Toro Records for believing in a Country band from Sweden such as The Country Side Of Harmonica Sam. Note that you can also get this album in vinyl LP format (ref. # BE117).

Standing ovation for "Open Letter To The Blues" by The Country Side Of Harmonica Sam.

Harmonica Sam on the stage

during Ubangi Stomp festival 2015.