<< A few days ago I was pleased to get a copy
of the self -produced CD "Introducing Joe Slomp".
>>
Man, Francesco, you stole my thunder!
Joe Slomp, an Italian JMDL'er, sent me a copy of this wonderful CD as well,
and I've been enjoying it over the past couple of days and was preparing my
review...
Anyway, this is a super collection of songs. It's almost like Joe read my
mind and did all my favorite artists! Doobie Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Joni,
Bruce Springsteen....what- no XTC or Tom Waits? :~)
Joe's an extremely talented vocalist. The songs he picks are not easy songs.
He's a blue-eyed soul singer, his voice is very chameleonic, he can belt out
a punchy soul shout or coo a soft whisper, and the musicians on this disc are
astounding! I don't know them, but I'll bet they're among the best studio
musicians available in that part of the globe.
Here's a rundown of the tracks:
1. A Case of You - This will appear on Volume 12. Thanks Joe for granting me
inclusion, this will be a good way to get you heard across the country, the
world for that matter. And he had some neat comments about Joni, he can tell
you what he said...
2. Guinnevere - This one's the standout! Imagine Steely Dan running this song
through a "Home At Last" treatment and maybe you can begin to grasp the feel
this one has. Has to be heard to be believed. Kakki, obviously I thought of
you as soon as I heard this chestnut! It's an OHMYGAWD jawdropper!
3. So In Love - This is a Curtis Mayfield song, done in a very Stax/Volt way,
tremendous horn section and that soulful Booker T organ sound. Very nice.
4. Woman's Gotta Have It - This Bobby Womack tune is probably familiar to
most of it via James Taylor's cover. This is similar in arrangement, but much
funkier and jazzier, and Andrea Cecchini's bass is featured and provides a
steady foundation along with solid drums by Marcello Surace. Think of Hall &
Oates and those white-boy soul harmonies they were famous for, and you're
pretty close.
5. This Time It's Real - This one would be a HUGE hit in SC, where they eat
up "beach music" tunes like this! This one would fill up the dance floor in a
hurry. It's Joe's salute to Tower of Power, and it's powerful good!
6. All The Way Home - The first of two Springsteen songs Joe does, this one
is a little obscure because it was a tune Bruce wrote for Southside Johnny.
And the arrangement is much more stripped down, just the vocal, an acoustic,
and a soft organ. Very tasty, thanks for bringing this one out, Joe!
7. She Makes My Day - A Robert Palmer song, this one is my least favorite on
the disc. Maybe because I miss all those babes that Palmer used to put in his
videos! :~) That said, it's still a pretty song, it just doesn't hold up to
the rest of the gems here...
8. Smile, Please - Another HUGE winner! Never heard anyone else do this song,
it's of course Stevie Wonder's tune from "Fulfillingness". Joe brings the
tempo down a bit and makes it a slow burnin' funky thang! Joe brings out the
joy in the song, that's for sure. Not too many singers would brave the range
of notes and scatting you've gotta do to pull it off!
9. Takin' It To The Streets - Are you kidding me? How cool is this? Joe and
company take this Doobies tune and give it a slick jazz treatment. Joe sorta
sounds like Michael McDonald anyway (when he wants to, I told you he's like a
chameleon!) , and this one is also noteworthy for the great piano work by
Pier Paolo Principato. It definitely puts a new spin on it!
10. Living Proof - The other Springsteen song on the record, this is a
beautiful song about the joys of having children. Joe's got two, Alice &
Martha, and I think both of their middle names are "Joni". Anyway, this is a
unique arrangement as well, some great guitar work by Stefano Micarelli and
propulsive choo-choo drumming as well. I've always loved this song, Joe, so I
appreciate you adding it here.
11. Some Other Time - A Leonard Bernstein song, from 1944, this one is a
gorgeous closer as it's just Joe and Andrea Eventano on piano. A pretty song
I'm not familiar with..."just when the fun is starting, comes the time for
parting"...man, is it done already?
This is truly a very cool record. Well done Joe, and give a "grazi" to those
musicians - they are WONDERFUL!
All that's left is to tell us how those that want it can pick up a copy! And
I'd love to hear more about the songs, why you picked the ones you did,
anything else you'd care to share...
And you can do the XTC and Tom Waits on your next record, Joe, and I've
already got the title for you: "Sophomore Slomp"! :~)
Bob
NP: Joe Slomp, "Some Other Time"
