Sonny Rhodes
Blue Diamond
Stony Plain – 1257
Released 1999
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This very unique lap-steel player of the blues stretches out on this Canadian roots label’s release. Those who have seen him will never forget his shows, in those he goes out of his way to entertain an audience. From his bright red suit to his bejeweled turban, and the legendary smile that is absolutely radiant, to the good humor he displays on stage, add his prowess on his lap-steel, and he is every bit the entertainer. This same warm and embracing energy is captured on this disc and given as a bonus to the listener. The lap-steel is far more common in country music, but it is an instrument that he has adapted to the blues and he finds it gives him the musical expressions and tones he was looking for. He was born in Texas and the blues that he heard growing up, as played by T-Bone Walker, Freddie King and Chuck Willis can still be heard in his music. This combined with his strong and imaginative songwriting, he wrote or co-wrote 10 of the songs on this disc, and his expressive voice make for a very worthy disc plus as a bonus there is an in depth interview at the tail end of the disc. Take special note of the expression and intensity displayed in Blues Walk. This man born Clarence Edward Smith has come a far piece of ground from his roots, yet his appreciation and hard work, he is on the road 250 days a year, has honed his sound to sheer enjoyment. He is a true Diplomat of the Blues
Songs. times and writers
1 Meet Me At The 10th Street Inn – 3:17 – Smith
2 Shame On You – 4:34 – Smith, Greenlee
3 Blues Is My Religion – 3:52 – Culberson
4 Blue Diamond – 4:25 – Smith
5 Back Where You Come From – 3:54 – Smith, Greenlee
6 Rainy Day – 4:09 – Smith7 What You’re Looking For – 3:52 – Smith
8 Beside Myself – 4:21 – Smith, Greenlee
9 Too Much Trouble – 2:13 – Smith
10 Love From A Stone – 3:26 – Payne, Moreland, Greenlee
11 Blues Walk – 3:57 – Smith
12 Blues Man’s Prayer – Smith
13 Life’s Rainbow – Johnny Clyde Copeland
14 Bonus Track After 2 Minutes An Interview – 20:13
Produced by - Bob Greenlee
Musicians
Sonny Rhodes – vocals, lap steel guitar, electric guitar, dobro
Ace Moreland – guitar, acoustic guitar
Warren King – guitar solo on #10
Bob Greenlee – bass, acoustic guitar
Doug Bare – keyboards
Ronnie “Byrd” Foster – drums
Theo Brown – drums
Jim Payne – drums #10
Anthony “Pack Rat” Thompson – harp #5, 12
Mark Hodgson – harp #13
Noble “Thin Man” Watts – tenor sax #4, 11
Rick “Hurricane” Johnson – tenor and baritone sax
Bobby Pickwood – trumpet
Jimitre Smith – background vocal #4
Yvonne Saddler - background vocal #4