Bonnie At Her Best
Eric Beerwald | Branford, CT United States | 04/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"God bless Raven Records. This Australian record has released a CD combining 2 of Bonnie Bramlett's LPs originally released in the 70s.
For those unfamiliar with BB, she was half of the duo of Delaney and Bonnie. In the late 60s and early 70s they(along witha varying cast of superb sidemen) combined rock, gospel, blues, and country in varying amounts and degrees that electrified pop music. After their marriage and professional careers parted, BB went on to record 4 solo LPs in the 70s. All
were brilliant creative successes and commercial failures. I'll
never understand the music business.
Anyway, on this CD are some simply incredible performances
including the single greatest performance in the history of recorded music(more on that later).
BB was, and still is, the greatest singer in the southern blues/rock genre. Her command of her material is complete. She can whisper or wail. Her presence even on a recording is palpable. She knows all the hooks and her emotinal range is downright scary. She can be sweet, pushy, sassy, ironic, joyful, world-weary--you name it! Whatever the song calls for, Bonnie delivers with forthright honesty. She has a story to tell and/or a message to deliver and she will do what she has to tosay what she has to.
The first 10 songs of this CD comprise the portion taken from the 1974 LP entitled "It's Time". It's an extraordinary record for so many reasons. Producer Johnny Sandlin assembled an all-star group of musicians and backup singers steeped in the southern rock/blues/gospel tradition. The complete list is too long to repeat here, but includes the likes of Gregg Allman, Paul Hornsby, Tommy Talton, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, and Chuck Leavell. Trust me, this band is the best. It even includes a full horn section that really wails. And wonder of wonders, this portion of the CD was recorded live in the studio. All the musicians were there at the same time playing together. What a concept! It was rare in the 70s. It's unheard of today. But what a sound.
AS for the songs on this part of the CD I'll give you the bad news first. To me the title track "It's Time" is a dud. It's a semi-psychedelic,semi-jazzy, relatioship examining ballad that just seems to meander off to nowhere. It just seems unworthy of Bonnies talents. But according to the liner notes Bonnie loves the song. Oh well, tat's what makes a horserace.
Also the rendering (and that is the correct word) of Jackie Wilson's hit "Higher and Higher" is also a dud. As Bonnie herself admits it's way too fast, and the high-powered sounds like they're parodying the song.
OK, that's the bad news. The good news is that the rest of the performances are electrifying. From top to bottom the band and singers are simply fabulous. The horn section is crisp and melodic. The rhythmn section provides a rock solid foundation. The keyboard work is creative and flowing. The background singers provide exciting gospel harmonies. And Tommy Talton conducts a clinic on the use of the slide guitar.
His solos soar and sting, while his playing behind bonnie is wonderfully creative. The man can play.
Then there is Bonnie. Lord, can that woman sing! My particular favorites are the sassy, rollicking (and autobiographical) "Atlanta, Georgia" and her moving, emotional cover of Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby". It reminds me of a New Orleans funeral. Another standout is her world-weary delivery of "Cowboys and Indians". But listen for yourself. Except fothe two I mentioned earlier this is all grat stuff.
Then there is "Oncoming Traffic". This performance is the musical equivalent of the perfect storm. The perfect singer,emotionally fragile (see liner notes), matched with the perfect song (by Gregg and Janice Allman) backed by the perfect band. Bonnie, starting out slowly, proceeds to run through almost every human emotion. From a soft sardonic chuckle to the most gut-wrenching, soul-destroying cry of pain I've ever heard, Bonnie sings the blues as it's never been sung before . Or since. Her performance is awe-inspiring, incandescent,electrifying. This is THE definitive blues performance. It simply has to be the greatest recorded performance in history. If you aren't teary-eyed and emotionally drained after listening to this, you simply have no soul.
The "Lady's Choice" portion of the CD is also excellent with some exceptions. I don't know why Bonnie and producer Johnny Sandlin chose to do such lightweight covers such as "You Send Me", Never Gonna Give You Up"and "If I Were Your Woman". With a string section yet! I suppose they were trying to enhance Bonnie's commercial appeal. After all, she's gotta eat too. But it's a waste. It's like using a Corvette to haul firewood. You could, but why would you?
That said, the rest is more of Bonnie at her best. My favorites are the lurching, attitude-filled"Let's Go Get Stoned"
and her scorching duet with Jimmie Hall on Jimmy Reeds classic "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby", complete with slide guitar solo by Dickie Betts. Another standout is the duet with Gregg Allman on "Two Steps From the Blues". Again, except as noted, this is great stuff. After all, it's Bonnie Bramlett.
My recommendation is simple. BUY THIS CD. Even if you have to use the rent or food money. You're getting the greatest performance in the history of recorded music, along with 16 other brilliant performances by the incomparable Bonnie
Bramlett. It just doesn't get any better than that.halls"
Plentiful tunes from gutsy songstress
Nelson Aspen | Los Angeles & NYC, USA | 07/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Soulful, rich and resonant...that is the voice of the mega talented Bonnie Bramlett, presented in more than 20 wonderful tracks here, combining her solos and collaborations from two seperate albums. I bought this CD from an amazon.com marketplace vendor and saved about 50% off the "New" price. Even so, it would have been worth full price...so great is the heart and voice of this rocker chick!
Also great are the enclosed liner notes which tell you alot about the artist and the woman. I'm a new fan and will definitely be an avid one for some time to come! Check her out!"
Natural Born Singer
Peg Libertus | Gainesville, FL | 06/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"John Keats was born to write poetry, JEB Stuart to lead cavalry. Bonnie Bramlett was born to sing."
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1