Unleaded Blues
Earwig CD4948
I'm Gonna Sell My Cadillac,Buy Myself A Mule/Born In The Delta; I'm Missing You/Stop Cheating/How Many Times/Put Your Suitcase Down/ Anything But Without You/I Feel So Good/You Got Trouble/Serious; Unleaded Blues/Fall Out Of Love/Take Care Of Your Homework/Somebody Please Give Me A Job
This second album on the Earwig label is a solid CD from Johnny Drummer, a South Side Chicago multi-talented musician. Not only is Johnny an entertaining vocalist, he is also a prolific songwriter, arranger, and bandleader. In fact, he wrote twelve out of the fourteen ear-catching tracks on the album. These songs could be listed under Johnny's real name, Thessex Johns.
The songs are an exciting mix of genuine blues and R&B ones, rounded out with some love ballads. Many of the songs are about relationships. "Born In The Delta" is perhaps autobiographical. "Somebody Please Give Me A Job" is reminiscent of Boz Scagg's "Somebody Loan Me a Dime," but more realistic for the times. In the title track, "Unleaded Blues," Johnny shows off his piano playing in the only instrumental in the album. It is a treat to hear music from the CD that isn't mixed with rock and funk rhythms.
Johnny sings his songs from the heart and thus gives a dynamic presentation. His band is creative and tight. Allen Batts plays an imaginative, strong piano on all the tunes except "Unleaded Blues." Three different people play lead guitar on the album, and they all add to the continuity and depth of the CD. Liz Mandville Greeson adds some good background vocals on four of the numbers.
This expressive CD is one that is worth adding to your collection. Johnny Drummer sings some impassioned vocals. The band gives a solid dimension to the pleasant blues and r&b tunes and ballads. Check it out!
by Maria Bainer, © August 2001
