Bob Corritore & Friends — “Somebdy Put Bad Luck on Me” — VizzTone Records
If you, like me, really enjoy great blues music that sounds just like — well, great blues music — then Bob Corritore’s latest release will be great blues music to your ears.
Corritore is a master at pulling together vintage music on his finely executed series “From the Vaults,” which digs deep into the blues past from a diverse group of artists.
This time, however, the treats are freshly cooked. And do they ever cook. For his latest and fourth release of 2023, the joyously tough “Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me,” Corritore shifts his focus to the present with 16 newly recorded tracks from a sparkling lineup of current blues artists.
Guest artists who add their powerful voices in this diverse session include ageless wonder Bobby Rush, Thornetta Davis, John Primer, Carl Weathersby, Johnny Rawls, Francine Reed, Oscar Wilson, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Tia Carroll, Diunna Greenleaf, Willie Buck, Jimi Primetime Smith, Sugaray Rayford, and Lurrie Bell.
The one artist who shines throughout is Corritore, whose solid harp work weaves knowingly on every song, creating sharp down-home solos, or floating eloquently in support of his bandmates and vocalists. That’s not to neglect the band here; the music, especially the guitar work. Every note is consistently razor sharp blues.
The album opens with the deep blues of John Primer on the gritty “This Little Voice,” with Corritore soaring on harp. This track alone is worth the price of admission; it’s a testimony to the heat and drive of traditional blues, complete with a razor-sharp guitar solo midway. Primer is a longtime Corritore partner and together they make real-deal blues more than just a memory.
That’s followed by the rough and tumble “I Need A Whole Lotta Lovin’,” featuring the big voice of Thornetta Davis proclaiming her lovin’ needs. Then Johnny Rawls turns the album soulward with his magical pipes on the searing “Midnight Love.”
Oscar Wilson follows on the title track, his vocals wrapped in Corritore harp for another tough outing. (I know I sometimes overuse words like rough and tough, but that’s how this music rolls. They’re the backbone of this enthusiastic blues. Just listen to Jimi Primetime Smith on the track “Tough Enough.”)
Bobby Rush talks his way into the next cut, “I’m As Good As Gone,” then creates Bobby Rush magic with his still-potent vocals amid Corritore’s passionate harp moans. Carl Weathersby shuffles along next with the hard-driving “Stranded.”
The album continues mining its deep blues vein for ten more delicious cuts. It’s hard to omit the fine remaining musical contributions, but I’ll leave them to you to listen and enjoy. They’re well worth your effort. This is as close to contemporary blues perfection as you would want. The session is immaculately produced, excitingly performed and thoroughly satisfying.
I don’t know who to credit for the clever cover art (and that of many previous albums), but it deserves to be mentioned. It’s a theme that Corritore has carried though many releases, and adds a distinctive touch that illustrates the musical attitude inside.
Yes, in case you haven’t noticed, I love this album. It’s pure blues joy.
If it wasn’t for this Bad Luck, we wouldn’t have no luck at all.
Corritore’s personal musical journey and his dedication to the blues are the stuff of history in the making. Here’s an excellent summary.
Here’s the title track, featuring Oscar Wilson:
Tracklist:
- 1. This Little Voice (feat. John Primer)
- 2. I Need A Whole Lotta Lovin (feat. Thornetta Davis)
- 3. Midnight Love (feat. Johnny Rawls)
- 4. Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me (feat. Oscar Wilson)
- 5. I’m Good As Gone (feat. Bobby Rush)
- 6. Stranded (feat. Carl Weathersby)
- 7. Remember Me (feat. Thornetta Davis)
- 8. I Want To Be Loved (feat. Tia Carroll)
- 9. If You Don’t Want To Love Me (feat. Eugene Hideaway Bridges)
- 10. Goin’ Fishin’ (feat. Sugaray Rayford)
- 11. Act Like You Love Me (feat. Lurrie Bell)
- 12. Draw Me Closer (feat. Francine Reed)
- 13. Tough Enough (feat. Jimi Primetime Smith)
- 14. I Don’t Know (feat. Carl Weathersby)
- 15. Help The Poor (feat. Diunna Greenleaf)
- 16. Let Me Find Out Your Name (feat. Willie Buck)
Blues Roadhouse 