CD Review
Sonny Rhodes
"Blue Diamond"
Stony Plain (1257)
by Matt Alcott
Review date: December 1999
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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An energetic, flashy showman and self-described Percy Mayfield disciple, Smithville, Texas native Rhodes, 59, went from good to great after playing behind Freddie King and Albert Collins in the 1950s. After recording several solo singles throughout the 1960s and failing to get adequate record deals, he put out his own singles beginning in 1978-a European tour led to overseas recording deals, but that never made him much money. He toiled for two years in frustrating obscurity, then started signing contracts with better companies in the mid-1980s.
His latest effort finds his fast guitar-playing touch, but the turbaned singer-songwriter's charismatic presence translates better to the stage than the studio. Rhodes pens the majority of the songs and a 20-minute interview "Bonus Track" winds down the CD. His guitar is solid as usual, but what comes across best on "Blue Diamond" is the soul singing; Rhodes' voice softly testifies, then builds to a Bobby "Blue" Bland explosion of high-pitched crooning. Son Seals would have been proud of this sweet release from Rhodes and company, which includes some fine drumming by Theo Brown.
www.stonyplainrecords.com or (780) 468-6423
This review is copyright © 1999 by Matt Alcott, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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