Robert "Bilbo" Walker
PROMISED LAND
Rooster Blues 2632
available on amazon
This disc is the reason I love reviewing. Pleasure and great surprise all rolled into one nice little package that landed on my doorstep one day as I was feeling a bit despondent. Right from the opening call on GOIN' TO THE TRAIN STATION to the last notes of BERRY PICKIN' (Roll over Chuck), I was kept pleasantly off balanced and surprised. What disc can you think of where you are going to find Chuck Berry (PROMISED LAND) crossed with Merle Haggard (THE WILD SIDE OF LIFE/IT WASN'T GOD WHO MADE HONKY TONK ANGELS) backcrossed with Muddy Waters (STILL A FOOL). Stinging guitar licks in as many different styles as you can think of yet always played through a blues disposition. Played with a verve and conviction not often heard recently. Even the yodels on even IT WASN'T GOD ... ring true. The gospel overtones on many of the cuts are strong and if it seems to be lacking just listen up again to some of the subtle vocal inflections hiding in the background. The notes left me feeling dazed and confused, scratching my head and saying, "What the thunder is this man prattling all about?" No real weak cuts here and a good number of true gems. It is worth rooting around in the bins to find. Get it you won't regret it.
Songs and writers
1. Goin' to the Train Station - Sam Cooke-Robert Walker
2. Please Love Me - B.B. King
3. Just A Country Boy - Robert Walker
4. Promised Land - Chuck Berry
5. Your Took My Love - Mertis John-Robert Walker
6. Still A Fool - McKinley Morganfield
7. The Wild Side of Life - William Warren- Arlie Carter
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels - D. Miller
8. Everything Gonna Be Alright - Sam Maghett
9. Baby, Baby, Baby - Sam Cooke
10. How Much More/
Mama Talk to Your Daughter - J.B. Lenoir
11. Better Lovin' Man - Hoyt Axton
12. Hold That Train, Conductor - Peter Clayton
13. Got My Mojo Working - Preston Foster
14. Berry Pickin' - Chuck Berry-Robert Walker
Musicians
Robert "Bilbo" Walker Jr. - Vocals, guitar
David "Pecan" Porter - Bass
Sam Carr - Drums
Frank Frost - Organ (8, 9, 12)
Eugine Stafford - second vocal
Produced by
Jim O'Neal, Patty Johnson, & Robert Walker