Frank Bey — “Peace” — Nola Blue Records (Jan. 17 release)
Some singers sing. And they do it well. Some pour their heart and soul into their vocals, creating magical musical moments — that’s the late Frank Bey.
Who is Frank Bey? He’s not exactly been a household word in blues circles. Although his regal vocals and soulful style should have certainly placed him there.
Bey’s backstory, like many of his contemporaries, began in gospel music, his in his native Millen Ga. At the age of four, Bey, his brother and two cousins formed “The Rising Sons” and toured the South. At 17, Bey joined the Otis Redding Revue as the opening act for several years. In the early 1970s, Bey formed a funk group, the Moorish Vanguard. A failed record deal and dispute with James Brown subsequently pushed Bey out of the music business for 17 years. He later opened a Philadelphia club called Smith’s, where Jeff Monjack and his jazz band were hired. Eventually, Monjack was recommended to put a band together when Bey decided to return to performing in 1996.
Bey’s debut album, “Steppin’ Out,” was released in 1998, but health issues interfered with his performing, and his second album, Blues In the Pocket,” came in 2007. Three more albums followed between 2013 and 2015: “You Don’t Know Nothing,” “Soul for Your Blues,” and “Not Goin’ Away.”
That brings us to Bey’s Nola Blue recording career — a revival of sorts, for his richly expressive vocals and impeccable singing style. This excellent posthumous collection, “Peace,” caps a pair of albums on the label: 2018’s “Back In Business,” which he certainly was, and 2020’s “All My Dues Are Paid,” which they certainly were, and which was nominated for a Grammy as Best Traditional Blues Album that year, shortly before Bey’s death at age 74.
“Peace” is filled with eleven tracks culled from Bey’s career that celebrate both its terrific musicality and Bey’s tremendous voice. The opener is Little Milton’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” a tough and bluesy romp with the band crackling all around Bey’s deeply soulful vocals — it’s a 2015 recording, released here for the first time. “One Thing Every Day” is an upbeat ode to the joy of trying to make the world a better place. “Midnight and Day” adds a little funk to the mix.
“City Boy,” by Keb Mo’, is a gorgeous acoustic ballad, full of soul and the Frank Bey spirit, with an ethereal harp solo by Sark Damirjian. “Blues Comes Knockin'” is the first of a handful of songs created by Monjack, and this one deals with the blues directly — “When the blues come knockin’, don’t you let him in….”
“Walk With Me” is another enthusiastic blues that gives Bey more room to soar. “Bed For My Soul” is an acoustic gem with just Monjack on guitar behind Bey’s heartfelt vocals in a country blues throwback: “Got a bed for my body / but got no bed for my soul.” “If You Want Me” is a soul-stirring slow blues that simmers with emotion. “Blues in the Pocket” is tough and funky with a raunchy sax solo, then the mood shifts to a dramatic reading of Sam Cooke’s anthemic “Change Is Gonna Come.” The closer is a Bey favorite, his passionate rendering of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” It’s a fitting emotional finale to this outstanding tribute.
Monjack says of his years with Bey: “For over 25 years show after show, going on stage with Frank Bey was a joy. Frank’s connection to whatever that spiritual part of music is, was strong. His singing came straight from the depths of his ancestors and connected to the deepest part of everyone’s soul who was there. There were no wrong notes – it was beyond that. Pure music.”
Nola Blue president Sallie Bengston says of this album: “Peace was Frank’s vision. Peace was Frank’s mission. Peace is his legacy. And now, “Peace,” the Frank Bey compilation album, will be released on his birthday, January 17, 2025; an enduring tribute to The Southern Gentleman of the Blues.”
Give this album a serious listen. Add Frank Bey to your list of great blues singers. Imagine the possibilities.
Peace.
A 2012 live version of “Imagine”
Tracklist:
01. That’s What Love Will Make You Do
02. One Thing Every Day
03. Midnight and Day
04. City Boy
05. Blues Comes Knockin’
06. Walk With Me
07. Bed for My Soul
08. If You Want Me
09. Blues In the Pocket
10. Change is Gonna Come
11. Imagine
Blues Roadhouse 