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Posts Tagged Robert Cray

Archive

June 22, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Don Bryant: You Make Me Feel

Don Bryant You Make Me Feel Fat Possum Don Bryant made a few singles under his own name, cut a few albums for other people– but his lasting contribution to music is as a songwriter. If nothing more he heard his wife utter the words, “I can’t stand the rain!” and lifted them up and […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Don Bryant: You Make Me Feel, Fat Possum, Robert Cray, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron, You Make Me Feel ·

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March 3, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 429

The Robert Cray Band, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark (1988) I have fond memories of discovering Robert Cray, all wrapped up with my childhood and moving into my early teen years. My mum bought Bad Influence on what I’m sure was a whim; I don’t reckon any of us knew anything about him until […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1988, Bad Influence, Blues, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, https://www.discogs.com/Robert-Cray-Band-Dont-Be-Afraid-Of-The-Dark/release/3332863, LP, Record, Records, Robert Cray, Soul, The Robert Cray Band, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 429, Vinyl, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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May 15, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Don Bryant: Don’t Give Up On Love

Don Bryant Don’t Give Up On Love Fat Possum Records How timely to receive this at almost exactly the same time as the fabulous new Robert Cray album. Both records use the same rhythm section – those magical players from Hi Records; responsible for the magic across records by Al Green and Ann Peebles and […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Al Green, Album Review, Ann Peebles, Comeback, Don Bryant, Don Bryant: Don't Give Up On Love, Don't Give Up On Love, Fat Possum, Fat Possum Records, Hi, Hi Records, Memphis, Robert Cray, Solomon Burke, Songwriter, Soul, Willie Weeks ·

Archive

May 11, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Five Songs For Friday: # 12 – Nice New Things

It’s been a wee while since I’ve offered up a Five Songs For Friday and even longer since it was about new music, brand new music, music new to me…stuff I’ve found through reviewing or snooping about through the channels. So here we go then…Five Songs For Friday: Nice New Things…from brand new artists and […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged [OST], 12", Daniel Pemberton, Demon in Profile, Don Bryant, Fazerdaze, Five Songs, Five Songs For Friday, Five Songs For Friday: # 12, Five Songs For Friday: # 12 – Nice New Things, Friday, Greg Dulli, Growing Up Londinium, How Do I Get There?, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Lucky Girl, Robert Cray, Soundtrack, The Afghan Whigs, You Had My Heart ·

Archive

May 8, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm: Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm

Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm Jay-Vee Inc./Southbound Here’s a wonderful pairing – Robert Cray (sweet soul voice, great guitar licks) and Steve Jordan (superb drummer and wunderkind producer). Completing this perfect connection is the decision to record in the still-running Royal Studios, home of Hi Records. You know Hi from […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Al Green, Album Review, Archie Turner, Bad Influence, Bill Withers, Blues, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, Groove, Guitar, Hi Records, Hi Rhythm, Hi Rhythm Section, Jay-Vee, Leroy Hodges, Rev. Charles Hodges, Robert Cray, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, Royal Studios, Soul, Steve Jordan, Strong Persuader, Tony Joe White ·

Archive

February 15, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 583

Chicago Smoke Shop, Mind On My Sleeve [Single] (1988) Long before I knew Darren Watson or any of his music as a solo performer I knew this song – and a couple of others from the band. I remember seeing the clips on TV, I never saw the band live – but they were a big […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1988, 1989, Albert Collins, Albert King, B.B. King, Blues, Chicago Smoke Shop, Darren Watson, EP, Fuss And Fight, LP, Mind On My Sleeve, R'n'B, Robert Cray, Single, Smoke Shop, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Vinyl Countdown # 583, Vinyl ·

Archive

January 17, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Remembering Robert Cray’s Bad Influence: A Sentimental Favourite From A Class Act

Man, I love Robert Cray. That liquid tone of his, that smooth sweet-soul voice that is not quite Sam Cooke but is certainly derived from that source. The churning, chugging, endlessly grooving backing band. Disco hi-hats and the two-stepping blues-plod of the bass. Then there’s the way Cray pinches at the neck of his guitar […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged A Sentimental Favourite From A Class Act, Bad Influence, Blues, Guitar, Remembering Robert Cray’s Bad Influence, Remembering Robert Cray’s Bad Influence: A Sentimental Favourite From A Class Act, Robert Cray ·

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April 6, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 719

Albert Collins/Robert Cray/Johnny Copeland, Showdown! (1985) Being a Robert Cray fan at a young age was kinda cool – my mum bought Bad Influence on a whim, next thing the whole family was hooked…and though I was into a lot of other blues guitarists already and certainly after that Cray connection was great in the […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1985, Albert Collins, Albert Collins/Robert Cray/Johnny Copeland, Album, Bad Influence, Blues, Bring Your Fine Self, Collins/Cray/Copeland, Johnny Copeland, Record, Robert Cray, Showdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 719, Vinyl ·

Archive

June 24, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 1094

The Robert Cray Band, False Accusations (1985) I was a huge fan of Robert Cray for a long time – and then not much of a fan at all for perhaps a longer time. His latest album has me newly enthused; a return to form from a guy who has actually been consistent – probably […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1985, Blues, False Accusations, Guitar, LP, Porch Light, Robert Cray, The Robert Cray Band, Vinyl ·

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April 8, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

The Robert Cray Band: In My Soul

The Robert Cray Band In My Soul Mascot I first heard Robert Cray with the album Bad Influence – it’s 30 years old now, it’s stayed with me. I’ve liked a lot of his music but that’s the album I go back to; it’s the one I’ve always hoped he could…well, not replicate, but compete […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Bad Influence, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, In My Soul, Robert Cray, The Robert Cray Band ·

Archive

March 1, 2012 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 1599

Robert Cray, Strong Persuader (1986) Always thought Robert Cray was a lot better than a lot of people think; including himself. His records, increasingly, under-represent (and under-value) his talents. But the first few still have some soulful vocals and some stinging guitar lines. The soul/R’n’B horn-drenched material of the 1990s became all too interchangeable. I […]
Posted in The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1986, Bad Influence, LP, Robert Cray, Smoking Gun, Strong Persuader, The Robert Cray Band, The Vinyl Countdown, Vinyl ·

Archive

June 25, 2011 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 1954

The Robert Cray Band, Bad Influence (1983) This was the first Robert Cray I heard. And it remains my favourite. My mum bought the album – I assume she bought it on a whim; I don’t think they’d heard of him, just an impulse buy. A guy with a guitar on the cover – that […]
Posted in The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged Bad Influence, Darren Watson, Phone Booth, Robert Cray, The Grinder, The Robert Cray Band, Vinyl ·

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