Bob Stroger & the Headcutters — “Bob is Back!” — Delmark Records
Bob Stroger was born on a farm outside of Hayti, Missouri, on Dec. 27, 1930. That makes him 94 years old.
Stroger, the bass guitarist behind dozens of performers at Delmark Records, has just released a new solo album on Delmark, and was recently inducted into the Blues Halll of Fame. That also makes him something of a blues miracle!
Not too many blues artists (much like the rest of us mortals) make it to their 90s, let alone as a performer. A few come to mind: Pinetop Perkins died at 97 and Honeyboy Edwards at 96. Bobby Rush is still working at 91. And yes, Buddy Guy is still churning, but he’s a mere 88!
For “Bob Is Back!,” his second solo outing at Delmark, Stroger is again paired with the Headcutters, a tough-enough young Brazilian band that provided the backing for Stroger’s first Delmark solo effort, “That’s My Name.” The Headcutters are Joe Marhofer on harp, Ricardo Maca on guitar, Arthur ‘Catuto’ Garcia on bass, Leandro ‘Cavera’ Barbeta on drums and pianist Ben Levin as a special guest. They combine freshness and authenticity here that drives home the spirit of Stroger’s blues.
This album features five Stroger originals, and seven covers, all musical graduates of the classic old-school of the blues (credits at the end of this post). If you need a reminder of just how vital that music was, and still is, check out the cuts included here.
Stroger opens with “Look Over Yonders Wall” by Elmore James and “Champagne and Reefer” by Muddy Waters, two fine vintage blues. Stroger’s own “Jazz Man Blues” follows, heavy on jazz influences with instrumental solos all around: “Jazz ain’t nothin’ but a bluesman blowin’ his horn … “
Tampa Red’s “Don’t You Lie To Me” gets a rhythmic Latin treatment with the Headcutters providing a backup chorus. Stroger contributes the gentle romantic lyricism of the slow blues “My First Love” and then shuffles in with the lover’s lament of “Loan Me Train Fare.” The R&B power of Amos Milburn kicks in with “Thinking and Drinking,” with piano and harp trading sharp solos. Stroger’s “Bob Is Back In Town,” gets a slow and bluesy treatment.
“Love You Baby,” by Joe Brown and Edward Milton, is more deeply felt, down-home blues. An instrumental version of the title track gives the Headcutters a chance to stretch out with a rocking “welcome back” feel. “Gold Tailed Bird” is a slow-burning cover of the Jimmy Rogers song. The closer is a rollicking version of the classic “Let The Good Times Roll.”
Bob Stroger’s “Bob Is Back!” is a fine album of vintage blues from one of the old masters. It’s not just proof that he’s back, but that, more importantly– just like the blues — he’s never gone away.
“Loan Me Train Fare” from the album:
Tracklist and credits:
01 Look Over Yonders Wall 02:50 Elmore James, Marshall E. Seehorn Arc Music, Rhinelander Music Inc (BMI)
02 Champagne And Reefer 03:34 McKinley Morganfield / Watertoons Music (BMI)
03 Jazz Man Blues 03:53 Robert Stroger / Leric Music (BMI)
04 Don’t You Lie To Me 03:35 Hudson Whittaker / Universal Music Corporation (ASCAP)
05 My First Love 03:06 Robert Stroger / Delmark Admin.
06 Loan Me Train Fare 03:29 Robert Stroger / Leric Music (BMI)
07 Thinking And Drinking 03:44 Amos Milburn / EMI Longitude Music (BMI)
08 Bob Is Back In Town 04:35 Robert Stroger / Delmark Admin.
09 Love You Baby 02:57 Joe Brown, Edward Milton / Embassy Music Corp (BMI)
10 Bob Is Back 03:45 Robert Stroger / Delmark Admin.
11 Gold Tailed Bird 04:27 Jimmy Rogers / Cordero Publishing Company (BMI)
12 Let The Good Times Roll 03:54 Fleecie Moore Jordan, Sam Theard RYTVOC Inc, Theard Swanson Publishing (ASCAP)
Bob Stroger BASS AND VOCALS
Joe Marhofer HARMONICA
Ricardo Maca GUITAR
Arthur Catuto BASS
Leandro Cavera DRUMS
Ben Levin PIANO AND ORGAN (ALL TRACKS EXCEPT TRACK 9)
Candice Ivory BACKING VOCALS (TRACK 9)
Renée Gros BACKING VOCALS (TRACK 9
Blues Roadhouse 