2017 – Linus
Entertainment
By Phillip Smith;
March 17, 2018
April
Wine front-man Myles Goodwyn has had a passion
for the blues since the Sixties, when the greats like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy
Waters, and BB King were in their heyday. Over the years, Goodwyn set his blues
songs aside for future use and never put them to wax for an April Wine
album. The future is finally here, and a
dozen of those delectable songs have been recorded for this spectacular record,
Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues. Goodwyn takes the lead on vocals,
guitars, and keyboards, while Mike Carrol and Blair Mackay appear
on drums. Bass players consist of Richard
Fallus, Alex Fraser, Russal Jackson, and Bruce Dixon. The list of friends which join Goodwyn
in the studio are Jack de Keyzer, Garret Mason, David Wilcox,
Amos Garret, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Joe Murphy, Frank
Marino, Shaun Verreault, Bill Stevenson, and Rick
Derringer.
I love the way the album rolls in with the high
energy electric blues on “I Hate to See you Go (But I Love to Watch You Walk
Away)”. This captivating opener is
nicely topped off with a sweet sax and horn arrangement from Eric Khayat.
Goodwyn takes an amazingly deep
dive into the cold well of bitterness in “I’ll Hate You (Til Death Do Us Part)”. This stellar performance features the great Frank
Marino on guitar and piano great Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne. I could listen to Rick Derringer play
guitar all day. His searing guitar in blues-rocker
“Last Time I’ll Ever Sing the Blues” is downright tantalizing.
Myles
Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues brilliantly shows another
side of Goodwyn as he masters the Blues.
I certainly hope to hear more recordings like this in the future him.
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Also reviewed on Phillycheeze’s
Rock & Blues Reviews
Blue Öyster Cult & April Wine - Live @
Riverside Casino, May 14, 2016
