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MP3 Speedo's Billy Rose Band - Scrapin' The Wall
11 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Chicago Style, BLUES: Electric Blues
Details:
This project has taken us almost 9 months to complete, which is very fitting, as it''s almost like giving birth to our first child. The title "Scrapin'' The Wall" refers to the hardest possible way to earn your money. Its taken from the New York City Transit Authority''s "A" train on the midnight tour, which literally scrapes the wall and makes all stops from Far Rockaway to 207 St. During the day this trip takes about one and half hours, but on the midnight tour with track work it can easily run over 2 and half hours. More work for the same money.
Several tunes on this CD convey this theme, hence this record could also be titled, "The Working Mans Blues". Here are some individual notes on the specific songs.
1. My Babe by Bill Medley and Bob Hatfield[3:24]
The first of our 2 song tribute to the early Righteous Brothers, pioneers of the great r&b sides of the early sixties. This song features 3 part harmonies from Rose, Billy K. and myself. A short track that rocks steady from end to end.
2. Better Dead Than Canarsie by Speedo Harmonica Jones[6:16]
Having worked as an Assistant Train Dispatcher at the most horrible terminal in the entire New York City Transit Authority gave me a unique insight into my own personal hell for a year.
Freewheelin'' Frank, our bass player, keeps a serious bass line cranking while Anthony Guido takes the first blazing guitar solo on this song which is supposed to recreate the feel of a train wreck.
3. Breaking Up Somebody''s Home by Al Jackson Jr. & Timothy L
Matthews [7:19]
This Ann Peebles classic is taken at a slower and bluesier tempo than the original. Rose''s sultry vocals sends chills up my spine on this one. My harmonica is supposed to be like a second voice and Brother Dave''s sparse but perfect guitar solo provides us with one of my favorite and most haunting tracks on this CD.
4. Keep Your Hands To Yourself by Daniel J Baird[3:54]
Billy K. sings his ass off, and the band, especially Billy F.{Stretch Gibson}really rock out on this number. This song is a favorite at some of those real sleazy dive bars we''ve played at throughout the years.
5. I''d Rather Be A Has Been by Speedo Harmonica Jones[6:30]
Another original dedicated to the working man and the futility of life. With lines like "Working 10X harder for one tenth of what someone else has got" you can tell this is not a blues for Paris Hilton.
6. Chain Of Fools by Donald Covay[6:06]
Rosanne sings her soul out on this Aretha Franklin classic which is done much more in a Carlos Santana vein. This song shows off our Latin influence which surfaces from time to time.
7. No Love Song by Speedo Harmonica Jones[4:39]
Another original song which is actually a very metaphysical blues with tongue in cheek lyrics. I dedicate the lyrics to my good friend Robert Ross, especially the line about being a "speck a grime in a spotless universe." Musically Brother Dave pays homage to T Bone Walker and Peter Green in his very tasty guitar solo and fills.
8. Ain''t No Sunshine by Bill Withers[4:51]
Billy K. shows off the mellow side of his voice and the band shows off its laid back side on this track. Billy F. takes an especially tasteful jazzy solo on this song.
9. Tore Up by Ike Turner & Ralph Bass[4:22]
Brother Dave vocalizes about the perils of too much indulging. Billy Freeman plays a very tasteful and swinging solo in the process.
10. Bb Blues by Bill Medley and Bob Hatfield[6:49]
If I were to pick a favorite track on this CD, it would be this one. The first time I played this song for Rose over the phone, we were both floored. How this musical gem has never been covered by anyone before is a complete mystery to me. Rosanne channels the spirit of the late great Bobby Hatfield on this one and proves to the world that he was one of the greatest, yet unheralded blues singers of all time. Guest guitarist Jake Walker takes the second guitar break while I channel the soul and energy of the late great Paul Butterfield in my stream of consciousness harmonica solo on this astounding track.
11. Simple Man by Gary R Rossington and Ronald W Vanzant
[6:40]
Stylistically it doesn''t belong with the rest of the tracks on this cd. Its a highly requested number on some of our live dates so we''ve included it here as a bonus track. Billy F. plays some tasty heavy guitar and Freewheelin'' Frank plays some excellent bass fills.
Band personnel:
Speedo Harmonica Jones-harmonica and vocals on tracks 1,2,5,7,10
Rosanne Freeman-Keyboards, percussion and vocals on tracks 1,3,6,10,11
Billy Kedenburg-Drums, percussion,and vocals on tracks 1,3,8
Billy Freeman-Guitar and background vocals
Brother Dave Likhtiger-Guitar and vocals on track 9
Freewheelin'' Frank Bisceglia-Bass, Not allowed to sing but somehow sneaks a background vocal "Poopin''" on "Better Dead Than Canarsie''
Special guests:
Anthony Guido-guitar on Better Dead Than Canarsie, first solo
Jake Walker-guitar on Bb Blues,second solo
Recorded at Suffolk Recording Studios, Patchogue, N.Y. between Nov.2006 and June 2007
Mike Herz,engineer
Dan Welsch,owner and spiritual adviser
Produced by the Speedos Billy Rose Band
Photography by Kevin Coughlin
Liner notes by Speedo Harmonica Jones
Speedos Billy Rose Band would like to dedicate this CD to 3 people who recently passed away, Larry Logeman, Andy Mazzilli and Dolores Pittman.
In addition we wish to dedicate this record to our following friends and loved ones: Anjelica, Alex, Patrick, Miriam, Frank Jr., Nick, Lauren, Jersel, Janet, Iliana, Simone, GGB, Arnie, Mighty Mouth, Nathaniel, Vince, Brian, Derrick, Pele, Bob E., Ericka, Delores, Angie, and all of our friends and fans worldwide. Thank You for your love and support.
People who are interested in should consider this download.
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