Tad Robinson Real Street

Tad Robinson

Real Street

Severn Records

Tad Robinson's new album of blue-eyed soul, "Real Street" was recorded at Memphis' Electraphonic Recording and recorded by Scott Bomar, leader of the acclaimed Memphis soul band, The Bo-Keys. Robinson's vocals and harmonica are vocals and harmonica are backed by the legendary Hi Rhythm section of Charles Hodges – Hammond organ; Leroy Hodges – bass; and Howard Grimes – drums. They are augmented by Joe Restivo – guitar; Kevin Anker – Wurlitzer electric piano; Marc Franklin – trumpet; Kirk Smothers – sax; and Devin B. Thompson – background vocals.

Robinson and his band do an excellent job of recreating the classic Hi Records sound. Robinson and friends have contributed several choice originals, and they interpret songs from George Jackson, Roy Orbison, David Gate, and others. Certainly, an original like "Changes" with chugging rhythms comes off like a cover of a classic Syl Johnson number. Its memorable lyrics are about friends one has trusted have let you down, and then only love can help you negotiate the changes. There is a marvelous heartfelt rendition of a George Jackson soul ballad, "Search Your Heart," where Robinson pleads for his woman not to put him in misery. Robinson adds down-home harp on "Love in the Neighborhood." "Wishing Well Blues" is a soulful blues about his woman leaving set against this terrific rhythm section with biting guitar, punchy horns, orchestral organ, and a touch of harmonica.

Robinson takes the old Roy Orbison ballad, "You Got It," and transforms it into deep southern soul in a fashion that Otis Clay or Syl Johnson may have done it. Then there is a similar transformation of Bread's hit."Make It With You," by David Gates, into a classic Hi Records styled performance. Superbly backed by this terrific studio band and sung so fervently by Robinson, "Real Street" is a gem of contemporary Memphis-styled soul.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Tad Robinson performing "Love in the Neighborhood" from this CD.

Scott Sharrard Saving Grace

Scott Sharrard
Saving Grace
We Save Music

Sharrard, for those like this writer who are not aware, was the late Gregg Allman’s Musical Director. On this release he takes center stage backed by the Hi Rhythm of Memphis (Howard Grimes on drums, Leroy Hodges on bass and Charles Hodges on organ), and the Swampers Of Muscle Shoals (Charles Gamble on drums, David Hood on bass and Spooner Oldham on a few selections), with Eric Finland on keyboards, Mark Franklin on trumpet (among horn players). Taj Mahal guests on the Greg Allman's last original (a collaboration with Sharrard), "Everything a Good Man Needs," on which Bernard "Pretty" Purdie is on drums. Except for Terry Reid's "Faith To Arise," Sharrard penned ten of the eleven songs (two being collaborations).

Sharrard's mix of blues, southern rock, swamp pop, and Memphis soul makes for quite an enjoyable release. He is a darn good singer with a soulful delivery, not as raspy as Allman, and a solid guitarist. The Southern rock heritage is perhaps most evident on Reid' s "Faith to Arise," with some tart slide guitar in the vein of the Allman Brothers set against Sharrard's moving singing. The title track, with Gamble, Hood, and Finland in the backing is a soulful, bluesy ballad soulfully sung. On "Everything a Good Man Needs," Taj Mahal handles the vocal, singing about how his baby's love keeps him humming and is all he needs. His strong vocal is backed Sharrard's crying slide guitar, tight riffing horns and a funky R&B groove.

"Angeline," with the Hi Rhythm Section is a Memphis funk take on swamp pop, while "Words Can't Lie," is simply a terrifically sung Memphis soul ballad. "She Can't Wait" is another southern soul-flavored original with the Swampers adding their own brand of funk as Sharrard sings about his part-time love leaving him full of despair. "Sweet Compromise," is a brassy uptempo blues with slashing guitar followed by another blues, "Tell The Truth," again with more high energy blues-rock guitar. Sharrard impresses by his focused, thoughtful playing as opposed to merely shredding.

There are some really good songs, fervent and moving vocals, excellent guitar as well and first-rate backing and production. This blues traditionalist was quite impressed by this recording. Dedicated to Rich Hall, Butch Trucks, and Greg Allman, Scott Sharrard does their memory proud on "Saving Grace."

A publicist provided my review copy. I have made stylistic changes to this review, which first appeared in the November-December 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 381). Here Scott Sharrard performs "Angeline."

Syl Johnson Back In The Game

Syl Johnson
Back In The Game
Delmark

The Memphis Hi Records label is best known for Al Green’s recordings along with deep soul recordings by O.V. Wright and Syl Johnson. Syl, brother of Chicago bluesmen Mac Thompson and Jimmy Johnson, grew up next to bluesman Magic Sam. He had hits on Twinight and Hi Records, and surfaced on various small labels in the intervening years.
 
Delmark has reunited Johnson with the famed Hi Rhythm Section (brothers Teenie, Leroy and Charles Hodges and drummer Howard Grimes), and a crack horn section for Back in the Game, a mix of soul and blues with a gospel track added (a fervent duet with daughter, Syleena Thompson, Dipped in the Water).

In the opening title track, Johnson makes it clear that he is “back in the game,” with a revived music career. The material includes reprising his Hi recording of Take Me to the River (with Johnson on harp) while his blues roots are displayed with a fine Driving Wheel and the impassioned version of Magic Sam’s All Your Love (dedicated to Sam and his brother Mac). Most of the other songs are deep soul, such as Anyway the Wind Blows and the pleading I Can’t Stop.

Johnson’s singing has lost none of its conviction and this is the best album in this vein since Otis Clay’s live Japanese recording.

I likely received a review copy from Delmark Records. This review originally appeared in the February 1995 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 198). This is still in print. Here is Syl Johnson in performance.