Blues Roadhouse

Kid Ramos — “Strange Things Happening” — Nola Blue Records

“Strange Things Happening” is an unusual new album from a veteran bluesman — a gospel album.

The blues-gospel combination itself isn’t all that unusual, but this is the reverse of, historically, how blues and soul music has emerged from the church through performers who moved from the sacred to the secular in their careers.

This album also stretches me out of my blues comfort zone. I’ve always been aware of the presence of gospel music in a historical way but have not until recent years paid much attention to the actual music, except for enjoying the occasional performance. That’s my loss.

The difference in recent years has been my attention to a radio program (yes, radio) broadcast weekly on WMNF, a community radio station in Tampa, Fla. I’m talking about The Rhythm Revival, a show hosted by the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz and Marvelous Marvin Boone. Both are walking encyclopedias of music history, and the show features recordings that explore the roots of rock, blues, R&B, soul, country and gospel — and examine the intimate and often little-known relationships between them. Boone and Wirtz do this by simply playing the music and decoding what has been called the secret handshake between gospel and its musical brethren.

All of that is a long-winded introduction to this fine album, featuring classic and original gospel songs, driven by the signature guitar work of Kid Ramos, a veteran of more than 40 years The California native  has been a member of the James Harman Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, Los Fabulocos and The Proven Ones. He has received 14 Blues Music Award nominations. This is his first album in five years.

The vocals are provided mainly by Brian Templeton, another 40-year music veteran. He was the voice of The Radio Kings and has performed with Jerry Portnoy, Sonny Rhodes, James Cotton, and Otis Grand. His record label, Straight Street Records, presents his approach to Christian music. Ramos’s son, Johnny Ramos, a singer/songwriter and guitarist from southern California, shares in the vocals. The session includes Dave Limina on Hammond organ, bassist Mike Tuturro, and Stephen Hodges on drums.

This stirring session opens with what may be the best-known “popular” gospel record, and arguably one of the most influential — “Strange Things Happening Every Day,” a traditional gospel song recorded in 1944 by Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She sang and played gospel with a wicked electric guitar in what could easily be described as one of the first rock ‘n’ roll records. Her electric guitar stylings did not go unnoticed. Chuck Berry once said: “My whole career has been one long Sister Rosetta Tharpe impersonation.” That song is a great choice to lead off this album, with Ramos rocking the guitar highlights and Templeton impressively handling the vocal.

“How I Got Over” was written by Clara Ward in 1951, and its R&B flavored licks roll behind Templeton’s rousing soulful vocal. “I’m Working On A Building” was written by A.P. Carter, head of the Carter Family, with another uplifting, blues-shouter vocal by Templeton, backed by Limina’s exuberant organ and sharp Ramos guitar solo. The delicate “Oh, What A Meeting” was written by gospel legend Arthur Lee Crume and greatly enhanced by a luminous vocal from Johnny Ramos.

“Jesus Dropped The Charges” was written by Bishop Richard “Mr. Clean” White and gets rollicking vocals from Templeton as the band powers him along. “An Answer for Isaac,” written and sung by Templeton, expands its message with a powerful fuzztone, grunge-like sound.

“God Walks The Dark Hills,” by Audrey Czarnilow, features another gorgeous vocal by Johnny Ramos, then “Satan’s Jeweled Crown” features a duet between Templeton and Johnny Ramos. The song was written by the virtually unknown Edgar Edens and recorded by the country and gospel duo, the Louvin Brothers in 1959.

“Nobody But The Lord” is the second song from Templeton, then“Every Grain of Sand” covers a Bob Dylan song. “More Love Than Power” is another stunning duet with Johnny Ramos and Templeton. The closer is “I’m A Pilgrim,” an upbeat and uplifting written by Senior Roy Crain and sung by Templeton.

The inspiration for this record came when Kid received a phone call from an old pastor friend, James Rasmussen. “James decided he was going to start supporting musicians that were playing gospel music and spread the word that way, and he wanted to know if I wanted to make a God record. Of course I had to call my brother Brian Templeton and he was down for the project. We recorded everything live in basically two days.” Ramos says that “My first gospel record is really from the heart, and I hope people enjoy it.”

It’s hard to not enjoy this special album, combining the power of Ramos’s West Coast blues with the passion of great gospel music.

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Here’s “Strange Things Happening” from the album:

Tracklist:
1. Strange Things Happening (Feat. Brian Templeton) (4:38)
2. How I Got Over (Feat. Brian Templeton) (5:39)
3. I’m Working On A Building (Feat. Brian Templeton) (3:49)
4. Oh, What A Meeting (Feat. Johnny Ramos) (7:09)
5. Jesus Dropped The Charges (Feat. Brian Templeton) (5:39)
6. An Answer For Issac (Feat. Brian Templeton) (4:56)
7. God Walks The Dark Hills (Feat. Johnny Ramos) (5:10)
8. Satan’s Jeweled Crown (Feat. Brian Templeton & Johnny Ramos) (4:10)
9. Nobody But The Lord (Feat. Brian Templeton) (3:28)
10. Every Grain Of Sand (Feat. Brian Templeton) (6:20)
11. More Love, More Power (Feat. Johnny Ramos & Brian Templeton) (4:54)
12. I’m A Pilgrim (Feat. Brian Templeton) (5:43)