I’m a fan of a Fermanagh Chicago Blues band called Sidewalk Boogie and they play tunes that match well with ‘Snatch It Back and Hold It’ which is a highlight of this fabulous, hugely enjoyable new blues record from Van Morrison.
Fats Domino’s ‘Ain’t that a Shame’ is done so tenderly and imaginatively by Van. Beautiful. Shout out to bass guitarist David Hayes superb throughout this track and the whole album. He goes back to the 1970s with Van all the way to Hard Nose the Highway and classic live album, It’s Too Late To Stop Now.
Taj Mahal pops up on ‘Can’t Help Myself’. Blind Blake’s ‘Delia’s Gone’ is another to turn to rewardingly.
I only began to listen to this album in the middle of the night. It came out at midnight so these are just impressions and the stuff that immediately grabs me by the lapels and insists, hey Jimmy cop-a-load-a this.
Working class hero song Van’s own ‘Social Climbing Scene’ has a fully developed chip perched on each shoulder. It connects. The title track with the funny title phrase [the song is serious] in this day of scams so far so zeitgeist is slow and quite intense but it rambles a bit. It’s followed by a take on Dedric Malone’s ‘You’re the One’ which is fantastic.
Blues icon Buddy Guy is on ‘I’m Ready,’ the Willie Dixon he does so well. So just a quick listen And you know what?
Van guested with Buddy a decade and more ago on BB King elegy ‘Flesh & Bone’ which is very moving totally pick your jaw up off the floor territory. A meeting of minds sound in communion & antidote to this world of pain we all live in continues on this latest collaboration.
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