Chris Cain — “Good Intentions Gone Bad” — Alligator Records
Fairly often in this blog, I write about artists who may not be well-known nationally, but who definitely deserve a wider stage.
Today’s choice, Chris Cain, is a good example of another kind of performer — one who has been on the national scene for decades, with fifteen acclaimed albums and multiple awards to his credit, and much praise from his peers. With all those accolades, it seems odd, but he still appears to be criminally under-recognized as a major talent when blues guitar gods are catalogued as household names. Cain is a topflight singer and songwriter, as well as a wickedly sharp blues guitar player, and assuredly deserves a higher ranking in that pantheon.
“Good Intentions Gone Bad” should be the album that helps boost Cain’s ratings in that universe. It’s his 16th album and second for Alligator Records, recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studio, with Andersen producing. The thirteen original songs reflect Cain’s sharpness as a tunesmith, and his music reflects his strong, tough guitar chops honed over his decades of work. And Andersen’s addition of a horn section on seven tracks gives Cain’s songs an added, swinging, dimension.
Those horns help kick off the first three tracks: The bouncy “Too Little Too Late” opens with Cain’s gritty vocals and stinging guitar riffs that set the tone for what’s to come. Cain favors big fat guitar notes, sparingly played, filled with intensity from what they don’t say, as much as what they do. “Fear Is My New Roommate” is up next, with world-weary vocals adding heft to the thought he is “not sure what is going to happen to the world.” The title track shows up next, favoring with a little New Orleans swing behind clever lyrical tales of how his good intentions don’t always work out.
“Waiting For the Sun to Rise” drops the horns and focuses on Cain’s soulful vocal plea in this steamy ballad. “I Was Wrong” jumps back in with an upbeat apology, then the bluesy “Time to Cry” wails his frustration with time for nothing but “time to cry.”
Cain’s ode to aging (he’s approaching 70), “Still Drinking Straight Tequila,” explains that he hasn’t quite given up everything that gives him pleasure. “Bad Dream” is a torchy blues, with Cain showing off his piano licks. “Had About All I Can Take” shuffles in with its self-explanatory title and a fierce guitar solo.
“Blues for My Dad” is softly lyrical with jazz overtones, a heartfelt tribute to how his Dad introduced him to music. It’s a touching musical memory. On “TGIF,” takes to both piano and Wurlitzer as he celebrates the coming weekend with Lisa Andersen joining in with background vocals. “Never let You Break My Heart” is another torchy blues, wringing the sadness from blue notes. The closer is a romp through “Thankful,” with Tommy Castro helping on vocals. It’s a fitting upbeat finale to this outstanding session.
“Good Intentions Gone Bad” is one of Chris Cain’s best. It showcases all the talents of a veteran bluesman whose musical maturity sings loud and clear. And it’s full of great blues. Enjoy it soon and often. Household word, there you go!
“Fear is My New Roommate” from the album:
Tracks and credits:
1. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE 3:30
Chris Cain: Guitar, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ, Piano
Cody Wright: Bass
June Core: Drums
Mike Rinta: Horn Arrangement, Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
2. FEAR IS MY NEW ROOMMATE 3:33
Chris Cain: Guitar, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Clavinet, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ
Cody Wright: Bass
Sky Garcia: Drums
Jon Otis: Congas
Kid Andersen: Tambourine, Cowbell
Mike Rinta: Horn Arrangement, Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
3. GOOD INTENTIONS 3:15
Chris Cain: Guitar, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Piano
Kid Andersen: Bass, Organ, RMI Electric Piano
Sky Garcia: Drums
Jon Otis: Percussion
Lisa Andersen: Voice
Mike Rinta: Horn Arrangement, Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
4. WAITING FOR THE SUN TO RISE 4:31
Chris Cain: Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ
Kid Andersen: Bass, Mellotron Strings
June Core: Drums
5. I WAS WRONG 3:25
Chris Cain: Guitar, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ
Cody Wright: Bass
Sky Garcia: Drums
Jon Otis: Percussion
Mike Rinta: Horn Arrangement, Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
6. TIME TO CRY 3:54
Chris Cain: Guitar, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Piano
Kid Andersen: Bass, Organ
June Core: Drums
Jon Otis: Percussion
Mike Rinta: Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Horn Arrangement, Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
7. STILL DRINKING STRAIGHT TEQUILA 3:52
Chris Cain: Guitar, Vocals
Kid Andersen: Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Organ, Wurlitzer Electric Piano
June Core: Drums
Lisa Andersen: Vocals
8. BAD DREAM 5:39
Chris Cain: Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ
Kid Andersen: Bass
Sky Garcia: Drums
9. HAD ABOUT ALL I CAN TAKE 3:13
Chris Cain: Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ
Kid Andersen: Bass
Sky Garcia: Drums
Mike Rinta: Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Horn Arrangement, Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
10. BLUES FOR MY DAD 4:27
Chris Cain: Guitar, Vocals
Kid Andersen: Nylon String Guitar, Upright Bass, Organ, Percussion
June Core: Bongos, Shaker
11. TGIF 3:55
Chris Cain: Guitar, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Piano
Kid Andersen: Acoustic Rhythm Guitar, Bass, Organ, Cowbell
June Core: Drums
Lisa Andersen: Vocals
12. NEVER LET YOU BREAK MY HEART 4:59
Chris Cain: Guitar, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Vocals
Greg Rahn: Organ
Dwayne Pate: Bass
Sky Garcia: Drums
Jon Otis: Percussion
13. THANKFUL 2:46
Chris Cain: Guitar, Vocals
Tommy Castro: Second Vocal
Greg Rahn: Organ
Kid Andersen: Bass, Horn Arrangement
Sky Garcia: Drums
Jon Otis: Percussion
Mike Rinta: Trombone
Mike Peloquin: Tenor Sax
Mike Galisatus: Trumpet
Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Kid Andersen at Greaseland, USA, San Jose, CA
Mastered by Collin Jordan and Bruce Iglauer at The Boiler Room, Chicago, IL
Photos by Laura Carbone
Design by Kevin Niemiec
Blues Roadhouse 