Paul Geremia
THE DEVIL'S MUSIC
Red House 127
available on Red House Records
This latest release by this master of the acoustic blues guitar and the 12-string blues guitar, will earn him even more accolades from his peers. Some long deserved recognition will hopefully come from the record buying public. He is considered by other bluesmen as the man at the top of this form, and getting even better with each outing. He has grown from his folk roots and just doing songs of the long gone masters to writing his own songs in this genre. These compositions fit so seamlessly onto a disc, that you have to look to see if it is a Robert Johnson song from the Delta that you missed or a Leadbelly tune that escaped your notice somehow, or a Geremia original. He is now penning the tunes that future generations of bluesmen will be calling the classics, IF A WOMAN'S LOVE WAS WHISKEY. The music he plays is timeless and knows no boundaries. He is a man who has sat down with some of the legends, such as Skip James and Son House, and soaked up their music, worked it, played with it until it became his own. He is truly perfectly matched with the earthy quality of his music. He has the good sense to mix up the tempos of the songs, which is an excellent way of keeping the disc moving along. He has, like a fine old barn, endured the elements well, and his guitar technique and voice have improved, but his innate feeling for the blues has grown as sure as the passage of time improves the wood of that old barn. Give a listen to STILL THINKING ABOUT YOU, and the vocal phrasing which is reminiscent of Blind Willie McTell, while the guitar echoes some of the qualities of Robert Johnson, but it is Paul's tune. This man's knowledge and technique are still growing, which is a good thing for us as he is keeping this very valuable and rich tradition alive and vibrant. Paul is one of stepping-stones in this rebounding music. People such as Guy Davis give Paul the credit of renewing their interest in the form, and credit him with being at the pinnacle, and spurring them along as far as guitar playing is concerned. This is his 7th recording, unfortunately his first 3 are out of print, but his recordings have done nothing but get better. They register the growth of a man who is already at the top of his crowd. This is far and away his best recording to date, however it feels as if his best work is to come. And, if he is playing near you go and catch him live for an exceedingly entertaining, humorous, and educational evening. This is a must get.
PRODUCED BY - Paul Geremia
Songs, times and writers
1 LOST MIND - 3:31 - Percy Mayfield
2 IF A WOMAN'S LOVE WAS WHISKY - 3:48 - Paul Geremia
3 STOCKING FEET BLUES - 4:07 - Blind Lemon Jefferson
4 SAME OLD WAGON - 3:32 - Paul Geremia
5 HOW'D HE DO IT - 2:51 - Paul Geremia
6 DROWN IN MY OWN TEARS - 5:18 - Henry Glover
7 STATESBORO BLUES - 3:07 - Blind Willie McTell
8 TERRAPLANE BLUES - 2:53 - Robert Johnson
9 BOOGER-ROOGER BLUES - 3:28 - Blind Lemon Jefferson
10 STILL THINK ABOUT YOU - 2:59 - Paul Geremia
11 THE WAY TO GET THE LOWDOWN - 2:18 - Tampa Red
12 CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST - 4:17 - Paul Geremia
13 FULLER'S WALKING BLUES (WALKING MY BLUES AWAY) - 4:18 - Blind Boy Fuller
14 FAREWELL STREET RAG - 2:01 - Paul Geremia
15 LITTLE SILVER AIRPLANE 4:08 - Paul Geremia
Musicians
Paul Geremia - vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, harmonica, piano
Rory McLeod - upright bass on CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST