JD McPHERSON - LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

1. Let The Good Times Roll   2. Bossy   3. It's All Over But The Shouting   4. Bridgebuilder   5. It Shook Me Up   6. Head Over Heels   7. Shy Boy   8. You Must Have Met Little Caroline?   9. Precious   10. Mother Of Lies   11. Everybody's Talking 'Bout The All-American

Rounder Records / 0888072369542

Five years for a new JD McPherson record. Five years since that 2010 tremendous hit that was "Signs & Signifiers". Five years to have this brand new "Let The Good Times Roll".

It's true that just a few months ago we got a limited edition single on Vee-Jay Records (reviewed by yours truly a couple of weeks ago) but it was not enough for us, the fans. We needed more: a complete album.

And here it is, at last.

Welcome.

Before listening to it, I feared JD wasn't able to reach the high quality level of his previous LP, as I believe "Signs & Signifiers" is one of the best records in those 15 years of 21st Century... There is no reason for that fear: "Let The Good Times Roll" is a top record. I don't know if it's as good as the former, maybe it's too soon to say it... But it's a very good record indeed. For sure.

To have top musicians has of course a lot of importance in having such a good work. And the band behind JD McPherson did a wonderful work in these eleven songs. If I'm not wrong, just JD himself (guitar) and the great Jimmy Sutton (slap-bass and electric bass) remain from the previous record, but the level of the rest of musicians has to be higlighted as well. Note that when I've mentioned Jimmy Sutton I've written down that he plays slap-bass and electric bass... and that's because in some of the songs he takes the electric bass. Nothing wrong in it: just a little bit "curious" as we're used to see him with the big ol' slap-bass.

The record starts full-throttle with "Let The Good Times Roll": a song that in a world of musical justice and good taste would be a hit for its own rights. From that point on, we may have preference for different songs. It depends on each one, of course, but I would like to highlight "Bossy", "It's All Over But The Shouting", "Shook Me Up", the relaxing "Precious" and "Everybody's Talking 'Bout The All-American", dedicated to the memory of that great Rock'n'Roller that was Nick Curran. I've highlighted half of the songs!... Please believe me: it's a very good record.

About style, it can be said that the Oklahoma singer remains true to his own way of Rocking: an almost hypnotic rhythm which is made of a blend of Rhythm'n'Blues, Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly that gave him such a big success with his previous record. We already found that hypnotic rhythm in "Signs & Signifiers" (do you remember "North Side Gal" for instance?) and we get it in this new album as well: listen to "Let The Good Times Roll" or "Precious" and you'll see what I mean.

Besides all that musical goodness, there is also a beautiful artwork for the booklet, with full-marks specially for the cover: "Weapons Ans Physiognomy Of The Grizzly Bear" is the title of the 19th Century painting.

Time to finish this review, ladies and gentlemen. Let me just insist one more time in saying that this is a very, very good record and that you'll do yourself a favour if you run to your favourite record shop and buy it.

Come on, let the good times roll!

Wonderful artwork for this record.

JD McPHERSON - I WISH YOU WOULD / STEAL AWAY (single)

Please find an adaptation of this review in Spanish at

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

SIDE A = I Wish You Would   SIDE B = Steal Away

Vee-Jay Records / VJR36236-01

Before his second album (that will be reviewed here soon), JD McPherson offers us this limited edition little marvel on the historic Vee-Jay Records label with a couple of covers from two Rhythm'n'Blues and blues classics: "I Wish You Would" and "Steal Away".

But before going for the record itself, lets take a quick glance at the history of Vee-Jay Records, that was founded in the city of Gary, Indiana, in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C Bracken and specialized in Rhythm'n'Blues, Blues, Jazz and Rock'n'Roll. Some of the names that recorded for the label are those of Billy Boy Arnold, Jimmy Reed, Memphis Slim, John Lee Hooker, The Spaniels, El Dorados, Gene Chandler, Four Seasons, Little Richard, Big Jay McNealy... August 1966 saw the closing of the company, though it had some later comebacks in different cities and aiming to different music styles.

After saying all that and being the label of the record one of the old Vee-Jay designs, note that the copyright of this single is from Rounder Records.

"I Wish You Would" was first published in 1955 on the very own Vee-Jay Records as recorded by Billy Boy Arnold. The Oklahoma singer offers a cover with a similar tempo than the original but without the harmonica, leaving the lead of the song to the electric guitar (and to the voice, of course). Up-tempo Blues or Rhythm'n'Blues, JD is at his best with this kind of rhythms and it makes you begin tapping your feet without notice.

"Steal Away" is a Blues recorded in 1963 by Jimmy Hughes and published a year later in the Fame label from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, being the song that launched the career of this artist. JD McPherson remains true to the original, keeping even the organ. A Blues ballad with a more quiet rhythm that the one of the Rhythm'n'Blues from side A.

By the way, it must be highlighted that the record comes with a card giving a code for the download of both songs in digital format.

Maybe this record is just a curiosity, but it is for sure a new proof of the good work of Mr. McPherson.

One of the original label designs

of Vee-Jay Records has been

used for this 7".