"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
Theodis Ealey is a super good bluesman, his music and style borders on soul at times, but bluesy soul it is, or is that soulful blues? Either way, as Theodis would say "it's a real good thang!"
The First track on this CD is a real killer. "All My Baby Left Me Was A Note, My Guitar And A Cookie Jar". It's a smooth tune, the title tells all, it doesn't get any more blue than your woman leaving and taking it all with her. Theodis is a good guitar player, the licks on this track are different, the entire beat of the song is..different, not like any other I can recall. I like it, different is good.
"Reconsider Baby" is an oldie , I have heard it many times, by many others. This version runs the same lines as usual, but is definitely unique. You get the old familiar, with a new sound, a real slow groove.
"Baby, You Got What It Takes" is a honky tonk sounding duet with Francine Reed. If you like serious piano pounding tunes, this is one for you. Both this one, and the title track "It's A Real Good Thang" could almost pass for Delbert McClinton songs, both in style and sound. "It's A Real Good Thang" is a real solid blues tune, with a solid piano line throughout. Almost sounds like Texas, even though it's from Georga.
"You've Got To Hurt Before You Heal" is a duet with Chick Willis, it's a slow gospel style song, has a real churchy sound to it, nice. This one really focuses on the vocals, both Theodis & Chick do a great job.
"If You leave Me, I'm going Wit'Cha 2002" has a smooth urban soul sound to it. Theodis had a previous CD titled "If You leave Me, I'm going Wit'Cha". Going by memory only, I believe this CDs version is different than the older one. Either way it is a nice song. I always liked the cover of the older version, Theodis setting on the tailgate of a packed up station wagon with guitar in hand. It just looked like the blues.
"I Want You" is a real solid blues, it would be a good dancing tune, has a classic sound, got that nice piano line all through it.
There is a great version of "Ain't No Sunshine" on this CD, yes, that old Bill Withers song. I always liked Bill's song, not exactly blues, but nice. Theodis does a very good job of doing this one in the style it was meant to be, while making it his own. He does an acoustic sounding lick on this song, I am unsure if real acoustic or some sort of effect, either way, it's smooth and nice.
"You And I Together" is another soul / soulful style song. It goes at a slow pace, a real belly rubbin' tune.
"Theo's Groove" is a guitar smoothie. Not a word, just instrumental guitar based stuff here. This one really shows off Theo's fine guitar work, it has a nice sound, he plays well, in a style that is hard to compare to.
This CD has a bonus track of "All My Baby Left Me..." in a cut down version for air play. Plus this is an enhanced CD with a video track, so you can see Theodis play while you listen!
Overall this is a winner, Theodis can play and sing in varying styles and sounds, all of which sound good.
You can visit Theodis at www.theodisealey.com
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