Randy Weeks
MADELINE
HighTone 8116
visit Randy's website
also avaliable on amazon
This is one of those discs that surprised me. I knew of Randy Weeks as a fine songwriter he wrote CAN'T LET GO, that we heard Lucinda Williams do on her "Car Wheels On a Gravel Road" disc. The disc went gold and the song was later nominated for a Grammy. He has not only honed his skills as a songwriter, but found that he can transmit those messages in a way that others can't (taking absolutely nothing away from Lucinda Williams' version of his song). He has put together a crack band here that has both twang and power that helps those songs just cook up a fine mix. The guitar playing here just sparkles, sometimes funky and fuzzed and at other times a sharp cutting slide attack, but always tasty and never in excess. This is the result of the interplay of the guitars of he and Tony Gilkyson ( Lone Justice, X), knowing they have the solid backing of drummer Don Heffington ( Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris) and bass player Kip Boardman. This ensemble manages to play to the intent of the song. There is for instance LONG RIDE HOME, which has shades of John Fogerty's swampy sentiment, or maybe it is the old familiar Stax sound as on GIMME BACK MY SOUL, which has the feel of Booker T and the MGs. This disc is a collection of that hybrid stew that makes up that old time Rock & Roll, part blues, part Honky Tonk, throw in some roadhouse country, and lots of soul. This reflects the roots of that wonderful gumbo we call roots music. It is sort of like a Bermuda Grass lawn. The roots are all over the place and so well integrated into the soil that it is impossible to get at all of them. This is one of those discs that in time will likely become a classic. Randy Weeks has a unique yet universal way of expressing his thought inducing insights into those questions that we all spend many hours with. Grab up a copy of MADELINE now.
Produced by Randy Weeks
Songs and writers - all songs are by Randy Weeks unless noted - no times given
1 MOTOR CITY
2 BABY YOU GOT TO CHOOSE -
3 MADELINE
4 LONG RIDE HOME - R. Weeks/W. Reese/M. Dieckmeyer
5 IF I CUT YOU
6 CAN'T LET GO
7 DON'T STEP AWAY - R. Weeks/J. Rymes
8 LAST DWI
9 COUNTRYSIDE WITH YOU
10 IMME BACK MY SOUL
11 MAKE YOU HAPPY
12 GET BACK TO ME
Musicians -
Randy Weeks - vocals/guitar/harmonica
Tony Gilkyson - guitar
Kip Boardman - bass/background vocals, piano on tracks 8 & 5
Don Heffington - drums/percussion
additional musicians
Ramsay Midwood - background vocals
Phil Parlapiano - wurlitzer/piano/organ/background vocals
Skip Edwards - Hammond on tracks 1, 5, 9, 11
Manny Gonzales - background vocals on 12, 6