In the tradition of rock solid soul music, Willie Walker struts tough, The Butanes backing him up like a brick wall on a true tour de force.
With raw-edged clarity, seasoned phrasing and a world of emotive power, Walker takes no prisoners. Giving it up straight from the gut, he puts each number across to fine effect. Ballads like "(We Gotta} Put Out The Fire" and "I Don't Know If I Can Make It Through" smolder. Upbeat cuts like "I Don't Mind At All", "Change" and "I Feel It" burn. The heat is all about a time tested pro dealing with the feeling.
The Butanes throw a hammer down, tailoring their blues-fueled chops to Walker's style. Locked in the proverbial pocket, drummer Robb Stupka and bass player John Lindberg provide muscular support, inventively driving the sound. Jim Greenwell (tenor sax), Michael B. Nelson (trombone) and Brad Shermock (trumpet) are tight. Backup singers Aisha Baker and Deb Brown are flawless. Band leader Curt Obeda plays fluid guitar. It doesn't hurt Walker one bit that Obeda, who produced the album, wrote the songs, evinces a sure melodic hand, an impressive range and -- that rarity of rarities -- well crafted lyrics. From first cut to last, there are no rehashed riffs or repeated hooks. Every song is fresh.
On an album this complete, just about every tune is a favorite. Still, there are well above and far beyond the call of duty standouts. Opener "I Don't Mind At All", for instance, packs a Stax/Volt punch, getting next to you before you know it and staying with you long after it's done. I had to hear to it more times than I can count before going ahead to listen the rest of the songs. "Careless" swaggers, Walker pulling out all the stops to signify and testify, The Butanes pumping downright nasty funk. And there's the mournful "No Longer For Me", tailor made for slow-grinding on the dance floor.
The production values are all there, Obeda, who also did the arranging and mixing, seeing to it that the music shines, stark, bare bones grit at its best. The sessions were done at Obeda's Minneapolis-based Home Studio, at last realizing his long harbored ambition of working with Walker. Obeda has long had a project like this in mind. Both acts, however, were always too busy doing other things. Thankfully, they finally got some downtime at the same time and could come up with this gem.
The only bad news is that arch veteran Willie Walker, who hit the charts in the 1967 with "Ticket To Ride" b/w "There Goes My Used to Be" (Goldwax) finds himself facing a market in which even Otis Redding might have trouble getting signed. Not nearly as many people dig soul music these days. If you do, Willie Walker and The Butanes' "Right Where I Belong" is right up your alley.
Web: www.thebutanes.com
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