6/16/2004

RiCK SAUNDERS

The NEW Kings of Memphis!
Reviewer: RiCK SAUNDERS from Pullman, WA

It's awful nice when you find a record label you can trust to deliver something great or at the very least interesting. Memphis' Yellow Dog Records is just that. Home to one of the best blues artists of the last couple years Mark Lemhouse as well as The Bluff City Backsliders Yellow Dog now brings us in it's on going tradition of great AND interesting Memphis' own new instumental soulfunk masters The Bo-Keys and their new release The Royal Sessions. I would say first release but they did back up the legendary Rev.Al Green on his gorgeous return to tip-top pop form I Can't Stop.

There's been some talk about the Bo-Keys using words like revival,revisionism, and the dreaded retro but that plain don't get it. Yeah, Ike Hayes begat Booker T begat The Bar-Kays begat the Bo-Keys or somethingerother and yeah, it was recorded at the amazing Willie Mitchell's Royal Studio (home to Rev. Green's classic recordings) but that's just a pinch of the spice in the recipe for this new and greasier Memphis stew and supa summer evening BBQ. This is The New Sound of Memphis baby. This is a sharp-dressed and sweatin' at midnight popped crease hangin' loose broke down no need to fix it glide in yr slide dip in yr hip stroll from uptown to straight DOWNtown freshness. I know you already read the Who's WHO on this but to refresh howsabout Skip Pitts (you know his wahwah built the Theme from Shaft)on guitar bobbin' and stingin' like a summer picnic bee. Back that up with keyboard maestro Ronnie Williams (that's him on Rufus Thomas' Do The Funky Chicken) on the B3 organ then back that up with Bar-Kays drummer Willie Hall keepin' it slapped down. Don't forget former garage band bassist and Bo-Keys band leader Scott Bomar drivin' thebottom and trumpeter Marc Franklin and sax man Jim Spake shinin' like new chromedubs and this Caprice classic is swangin' with funky junque in the trunk to spare. Fans of the old skool Stax/Volt/Atlantic/Motown sound and fans of new soul kool bands like Mofro get yr wallets out now. The Bo-Keys are the Feel Funky hit of the summers to come!