CD Review
James Solberg
Real Time
(Blues Eclipse - BER–00104)
by Dave "Doc" Piltz
Review date: July 2004
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James Solberg is a Grammy nominee and a two time W. C. Handy Award winner. With a resume that includes work with Johnny Young, Big Walter Horton, Jimmy Reed, Eddie Taylor and the immortal Luther Allison, Solberg has made his own mark as an exceptional songwriter, producer, arranger and guitarist. As was the case with his long time friend and musical partner, Luther Allison, Solberg has also established a reputation as a road warrior (300 dates per year) and a performer who won't leave the stage until the lights come on and the club is ready to close. I once saw Solberg at a club several years ago where he played for almost three solid hours, after arriving 45 minutes late.
Real Time is James Solberg's fifth solo recording and his first on Blues Eclipse Records. The CD is filled with Solberg's hot guitar and ten examples of his songwriting talents. In fact, only two songs on Real Time were not penned by Solberg; "Champaign Dreams" by John Lindberg and a Don Nix tune entitled, "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven."
The recording opens with the up tempo, smoking "It's Alright," setting expectations high for the remainder of the CD. Solberg eases back a bit for the title track "Real TIme," a toe-tapping shuffle, with some stinging guitar fills. The band takes it back another notch for the contemplative ballad, "Let The Teardrops Fall," a song about a woman who can't seem to let go of the past and move into the future with a different outlook on life and love.
"Second Hand Smoke" is a medium tempo, rock tinged number about how hatred poisons the air and negatively effects everyone around it, just like second hand smoke. The song is broken up with more of Solberg's signature guitar work. Solberg gets laid back again for "I Like Lovin' You" talking about the comfortable feeling one gets from a strong relationship. The guitar is still excellent, with a smoother, less edgy feel.
Solberg's originals are broken up midway through Real Time by two cover tunes. First, Solberg rocks on James Lindberg's "Champaign Dreams," followed by a burning slow blues written by Don Nix, "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven."
The sparks start to fly again when Solberg starts grinding out "Fightin' All Around The World," one of the best songs on Real Time. Solberg's guitar howls and the band including Allen Kirk on drums, Danny O'Connor on bass and Larry "Third Degree" Byrnes on Hammond B-3, give Solberg all the support he needs for one stellar tune. The band moves to more of a jump feel on "Rockin' In The Cradle," with Byrnes moving from B-3 to some nice boogie-woogie piano, complimenting Solberg's guitar.
Real Time winds up with the mid tempo walkin' blues, "Down, Down, Down," sandwiched between two slow blues originals. The first of the slow numbers is "Ever Seen A Rainbow," a song about love lost and crashing down from an emotional high. The CD closes with an autobiographical piece entitled "Gotta Play My Blues," discussing the highs and lows of life on the road and the ever present blues to fill the emotional highs and lows of life.
Real Time by James Solberg is an excellent example of Solberg's talents and why he has become one of the more respected players in the blues today. To find out more about Solberg and his recordings, including Real Time, visit his website at www.jamessolberg.com. Pick up the CD, its worth the trip.
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Copyright © 2004 Ray M. Stiles & Blues On Stage All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Blues On Stage is a ® Trademark of Ray Stiles.
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