Buddy Miles - Blues Berries (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

The Juice is definitely loose!

William Marks | Tampa, Fla U.S.A. | 03/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first time Stevie Ray Vaughan's and Hendrix's Band of Gypsys members have ever teamed up on a project. Along with United States All-Stars Keyboardist Mark" Muggie Doo" Leach and Former Black Oak Arkansas guitarist Rocky Athas this CD is an awsome work. With buddy Miles at the helm, Blues Berries has wasted no time bringing soulful Blues/Rock into the 21st century with a vengance!
Buddys timeless and heart felt croonings on groves like ROCK AND ROLL THE BLUES, BIG MOMMA and COMPASSION for the BLUES are goosebump inducing backed by an unusualy tight and punchy band. He voice seems to never age and he still rocks you like the 60's/70/'s with songs like MISS SUGA FINE and LIFE Is WHAT YOU MAKE IT.
Rocky Athas is a strong gunner with very tasty solos and his own unique rythym style reminicent of Stevie Ray and Robin Trower. Check him out on ROCK and ROLL the BLUES and BAYOU DELTA BLUES. he's a rock.
On Hammond organ is Buddy's Band leader Mark Leach who is also band leader for The United States All Stars. This guy's playing is superb and you might say his finess is beautiful and scary at the same time. I would name a song or two to check out but he's top flight on all so just enjoy.
Last but not least what can you say about Tommy shannon and Chris Leyton of Double Trouble? As usual they're a granite foundation with Buddy Miles Sharing some of the drumming with Chris. I've had the pleasure of seeing The BluesBerries on tour at the Houes of Blues in New Orleans. Hard to say but they're even better live! Without a doubt this CD is headed into history."

The Blues Berries are good and JUICY!!

William Marks | 05/23/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to pick a favorite track on this one. It starts out with an almost unrecognizeable cover of Tobacco Road, which is a good thing. It is the most unique & "funky" version I've heard. Very strong and gritty. Then it goes into Big Mama, & Compassion for The Blues which are solid old school blues songs kicked up with some ripping Texas blues guitar licks. Life is What You Make It is a VERY catchy uplifting tune that you will be humming long after it's finished. Tracks 5 & 6 show a catchy smooth blues and Gospel kinda feel. However Texas Canonball (about Freddie King) is one of my favorites... very catchy. Miss Suga Fine has a pounding rhythm. Buddy's vocals & drummer are superb on the whole CD. The bass line is steady and solid, keys are definitive and you can't imagine any tracks without it. The guitar on this is unmistakeably Texas Blues with a rock 'n roll flare. This band is one solid force and it shows in every song. I think it's one you will be playing over and over and louder and louder!!"

Welcome Back Miles!

deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 06/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Buddy Miles was always a formidable talent who, for one reason or another, never seemed to live up to expectations. After the death of Jimi Hendrix, Miles seemed to all but vanish from the scene. Miles, taking the lead from Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon who, like Miles, lost the front man for their band but unlike Miles, remained active despite the death of SRV, releases the surprisingly good Blues Berries. The sound of the disc leans heavily toward that SRV Texas tone thanks to the superb guitar playing of Rocky Athas and the contributions of Layton and Shannon. While I was at first skeptical of the inclusion of "Tobacco Road", the band does a good job of freshening it up and, as it turns out, is surprisingly good. Overall, the CD is a really fine rockin? blues disc."

Blues Berries

William Marks | 05/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Buddy Miles 'Berries' the PastThe life of Buddy Miles has seen more ups and downs than... but he is back riding high with his new release 'Blues Berries'. The disc is a return to the rock, funk and soul stew that Buddy is famous for.
Recent efforts like 'Miles Away From Home' strayed a little too far away from the blues, but 'Blues Berries' finds Buddy with his irons firmly in the fire. Sneaking up on you, right out of the starting gate, is a funk-infused
version of "Tobacco Road". This will apparently not be any standard 12-bar
blues and shuffle exercise, as the rest of the album proceeds to prove. By
the time Buddy reaches the end of the nine-and-a-half minute emotional
marathon that is "Compassion For The Blues", he'll have everyone reaching
for a Kleenex and crying in their beer. He also struts out two of the
latest loves of his life, "Big Mama" and "Miss Suga' Fine". The ladies
carry a lot of weight, "Miss Suga' Fine" being the heavier of the two.
There's also a taste of Louisiana in "Bayou Delta" and an acoustic stopover,
where Buddy and his gang pay a visit "Down At The Crossroads". Buddy's
gang, by the way, includes some old friends to this listener's ears. First
off, there's Rocky Athas. A legend in Blues-rock circles, Rocky is the
perfect foil to Buddy's Funk and Soul tendencies. Much like baseball's
great "Babe" Ruth, Rocky seems able to take aim with his Strat, then swat
riffs and licks at will. Holding down the beat with Buddy is Chris Layton.
Are these two gentlemen playing drums or pounding tent stakes into the
ground? The drums are that powerful. Flying below the radar are bassists
Tommy Shannon and Robert Ware, laying a throbbing foundation for the others.
Layton and Shannon, remember, are better known as Double Trouble. They
prove that here, kicking dirt and attitude around over the course of these
songs. Tying the whole package together is the B-3 keyboard tapestry that
Mark Leach weaves in and around the songs. In the end, it all boils down to
a great album from a band of gypsys, if you will. They're all at the top of
their game, and they have met at a crossroads, where the Blues Berries grow
plump and sweet. Stop. Sit a spell. Have a taste."

Buddy Miles Blules Berries

R. M. Saunders | Upstate New York | 07/28/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't realize I liked the "Blues" until I listened to Blues Berries. Buddy Miles hasn't missed a beat since "Them Changes." For all Buddy Miles fans, this is a "Must listen.""

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	Buddy Miles Blues Berries Genres: Blues, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock Track Listings (10) - Disc #1 Tobacco Road Big Mama Compassion For The Blues Live Is What Rock & Roll Come On Back Texas Cannonball Bayou Delta Miss Suga' Fine Down At The Crossroads
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