Showing posts with label Bette Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bette Smith. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

#478 : PhillyCheeze's Favorite 20 of 2020

 


By Phillip Smith; Dec. 24, 2020



PhillyCheeze's Favorite 20 of 2020
 (in alphabetical order)



Bai Kamara Jr & the Voodoo Sniffers - Salone



Ben Rice & RB Stone - Out of the Box


Bette Smith - The Good the Bad the Bette


BillyLee Janey - 20 Dollar Tip


8 Ball Aitken - Swamp Blues 2


Eliza Neals - Black Crow Moan



Eric Hughes Band - Postcard from Beale


Erin Harpe - Meet Me in the Middle


Fantastic Negrito - Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?


Kevin Burt - Stone Crazy


Micke & Lefty feat Chef - Let the Fire Lead


Peter Parcek - Mississippi Suitcase


Robert Connely Farr - Country Supper


Ryan Perry - High Risk, Low Reward


Sir Rod & the Blues Doctors - Come Together


Sister Lucille - Alive


 
Sonny Green - Found! One Soul Singer


Tas Cru - Drive On


Tony Holiday - Soul Service


Too Slim and the Taildraggers - The Remedy









I'm including a Spotify Playlist so you can easily give a listen to each of the albums.









Click on the link below to purchase any of this terrific music from the PhillyCheeze Amazon Store.    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

PhillyCheeze Pop Up Blues Store




Sunday, August 23, 2020

#459 : Bette Smith - The Good The Bad The Bette

 

2020 – Ruf Records

Release Date : Sep. 25, 2020

By Phillip Smith; Aug. 23, 2020

 

Three years have passed since Bette Smith released her debut album Jetliner.  The Good The Bad The Bette, her follow-up album, is an exquisite explosion of gritty, soulful, and funky music.  Recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Mississippi, the record was produced by Matt Patton (Drive-By Truckers), and Bronson Tew.  With Patton on bass guitar, and Tew on drums, Smith enlists a small army of guitarists comprised of Luther Dickinson, Jimbo Mathus, Craig Pratt, Jody Nelson, Bronson Tew, Matt Patton, Curtis J. Brewer, and John Mcleod.   

A bodacious cover of Lonnie Sheilds’ “Fistful of Dollars” struts in with a glamourous, spaghetti-western disco fashion.  The rhythm is downright funky and sophisticatedly accompanied with strings and horns.  “Whistle Stop”, an original from Smith is extremely bluesy and soulful.  Based on a dream she had shortly before her mother passed, this is a song commemorating her last goodbye.  Featuring Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers ), “I’m a Sinner” invokes the sounds of sixties surf rock and absolutely cooks.  Smith’s vocals are fearless and from the gut, reminiscent of power-house soul singers Aretha Franklin, and Sharon Jones.  Luther Dickinson makes a guest appearance to pour some sweet southern soul into “Signs and Wonders”, setting the stage for an uplifting cosmic spiritual.  Smith serves up a big bowl of Muscle Shoals-style southern rock, with a delightful cover of The Dexateens’ “Pine Belt Blues”.  The band is tight as hell, and Smith’s vocals are rich and superb.  More Muscle Shoals-inspired music follows with a fabulous cover of the late, great Eddie Hinton’s “Everybody Needs Love”, featuring Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers.     

The Good The Bad The Bette is beautiful and flawless.  Don’t let this record pass you by.

             

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For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://www.bettesmith.com/