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Becki Sue and Her Big
Rockin’ Daddies! go for the
jugular vein in their approach to making music.
Guitarist Tom ("T-Boy Neal”) Boyle starts off the CD with a noteworthy
Albert Collins-style instrumental jam called "Easy Go”, layered with tenor
saxophone trills.
Becki Sue takes the first turn on lead vocals with "Natural Born Lover” –
a barrelhouser with labor-inducing blues harp by her co-front man, Jim King
(also playing sax throughout the CD).
There’s no disputing that Becki Sue has the lung-power of Big Mama Thornton
and Janis Joplin combined (with a slight yodel, to boot). Unlike the music
performed by those dearly departed ladies of the blues, though, these blues
songs are interpreted for the purpose of rockin’, not cryin’, the blues.
Her voice also has a unique, deep timbre that doesn’t really remind me of
anyone.
"Mean, Mean Man”, again with Becki Sue on vocals, owes much to the Wanda
Jackson/Carl Perkins school of rock’n’roll, but "Cross-Eyed Cat” gives
Jim King a chance to funk up the blues, vocally and on sweetly resonating blues harp
– great wrist action by Tom on guitar.
The action temporarily slows down to a rhythmic strut on "Whiskey Drinkin
Woman” (with Jim crooning on vocals) before Becki Sue returns with a splendid
vocal tantrum on "No! I Ain’t Gonna Let You Go”. I could hear
that exclamation mark, further punctuated by saxophone, when she hollers,
"No”. Becki Sue is well-matched with Jim King in fronting this band
– there’s nothing subtle in this man’s furiously soulful blues harp and
tenor sax attacks. It’s easily the best upbeat track on the CD, with
upright bassist Les White and drummer Jeff Hayes giving the bottom end a
heavyweight groove.
A temporary sonic reprieve is granted on Ike Turner’s "I Got Love If You
Want It”, featuring wonderful harmony vocals and sweet-soul harmonica.
It’s back to musical mania with "Call Me Rockin’”, a pogo-hopping Zydeco-influenced
rocker, with rapid-fire harmonica replacing the usual accordion – this one’s
a good cardiac workout for those already in shape for it. If not, look
out!
"Just Your Fool”, with Becki Sue on vocals, is held down by a great bass
line by Les, which allows Jeff to stretch out and get rhythmically creative on
drums. Jim King’s harmonica sounds especially joyful here. I’m
not sure if this song is the band’s original (without any liner notes
provided), but it’s got great lyrics.
The sultry guitar wizardry in "Lou’s Waterbed” works well in tandem with
the earth-moving saxophone. It’s an instrumental lowdown dirty blues
that every exotic dancer should include in her dance routine. If this one
doesn’t make it into a film somewhere, I’ll eat my words.
"I Can’t Stop It” swings the blues, Down child-style, but it’s played
presto, so, again, unless you’re a very young thing or in excellent physical
shape, I wouldn’t even attempt to dance to this.
"Mean Mistreater” is a kick-ass, toe-tapping boogie shuffle that brings it
home perfectly, but it’s followed by an enchanting double-time rumba called
"Stranger Blues”, the best number sung by Becki Sue, accompanied by
innovative saxophone and a chiming guitar rhythm ending with a sizzle…and then
a brief a canella repetition of "I Can’t Stop It”.
This debut CD is stunning both in its intensity and diversity.
- Diane Wells
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high
energy - low down - blues to the bone!
