Paul Rishell & Annie Raines
MOVING TO THE COUNTRY
Tone Cool 1174
visit Paul and Annies's website
also available on amazon
This second treasure trove of country blues is a wonderful mixture of older, some known but mostly forgotten gems that had been gathering dust, and five songs written by these two artists that fit right in with the earlier diamonds and make the whole disc a wonderful way to kick back and enjoy no matter where you are. This album owes a big part of its appeal to the stunning finger picked lines that Paul seems to lay down so effortless as to appear common place, blended with the supportive and sensitive harp work of Annie. These two are not only sharing the rich traditions of these country blues, but they are ever widening the audience with their precision playing and empathetic treatment of the music. They bring this style of music to the forefront and make it a living and vital organism. The two have a wonderful chemistry that stems from the genuine love of this music, and the joy they so obviously share with each others playing. It is serious and yet at the same time joyous. It is the quiet joy of a couple that have been together so long, and shared so much, that they can just in a look communicate the whole world to their partner. On six of the cuts they have some other musicians playing with them, and rather than lose some of their intimacy due to the intrusion of others into the mix, they seem to gain. The other musicians have no trouble letting them go and do what they do, and they stay in the background and in a most supportive way fill out the sound, allowing Paul and Annie to use their support to reach for a fuller sound. The joy and love of their music is the very solid foundation to this disc, and the stunning musical mastery of their instruments is the result of long hours of playing. Listen to Paul's delivery of the vocal on MY WASHERWOMAN'S GONE. He has the intonation that is needed for this bawdy song, then pause long enough to listen to what he is playing on his guitar and how effortless it sounds. That is a sound they achieve by the consequence of both love and dedication to their craft. This is a gem on many levels.
Produced by - Paul Rishell, Annie Raines and Chris Rival
Songs, times, writers, and musicians
1 KANSAS CITY BLUES - 3:54 - Jim Jackson
Paul Rishell - vocals, guitars
Annie Raines - harmonica, mandolin
Jesse Williams - bass
Marty Richards - drums
2 MOVING TO THE COUNTRY - 4:16 Raines/Rishell
Paul - vocals, guitar
Annie - harmonica
Chris Rival - guitar
Damian Purro - bass
Marty Richards - drums
3 MY WASHERWOMAN'S GONE - 2:58 - Joe & Minnie McCoy
Paul - vocals, guitars
4 I GET THE BLUES - 3:00 - Bo Carter
Annie - vocals
Paul - guitar
5 KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF HER - 3:33 - H. Ledbetter, G. Turner
Paul - vocals, guitars
Annie - mandolin
Jesse Williams - bass
Marty Richards - drums
6 SWEET TOOTH - 3:08 - Raines/Rishell
Annie - harmonica
Paul - Fender guitar
Troy Gonyea - Gibson guitar
Damian Purro - bass
Marty Richards - drums
7 GOOD WOMEN HAVE BAD DAYS - 2:47 - Raines/Rishell
Annie - vocals, chromatic harmonica, Fender Rhodes piano
Paul - Fender guitar
Troy Gonyea - Gibson guitar
Damian Purro - bass
Marty Richards - drums
8 TWIST IT BABE - 2:39 - Bo Carter
Paul - vocals, guitar
Annie - harmonica
9 VANESSA - 2:07 - Rishell/Raines
Paul - guitar
Annie - mandolin
10 TURNING CORNER - 3:34 - Raines/Rishell
Annie - vocals, Fender Rhodes piano
Paul - guitar
Scott Shelter - baritone sax
Gordon Beadle - tenor sax
Damian Purro - bass
Marty Richards - drums
11 SWEET JIVIN' MAMA - 2:55 - Blind Blake
Paul - vocals, guitar
12 TEARS - 3:07 - Reinhardt/Grappelli
Paul - guitar
Annie - chromatic harmonica
13 FARE THEE WELL - 3:51
Paul Rishell - vocals, guitars
Annie Raines - harmonica