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| Becki Sue and Her Big Rockin� Daddies! go for the jugular vein in their approach to making music. Guitarist Tom (�T-Boy Neal�) Boyle starts off the CD with a noteworthy Albert Collins-style instrumental jam called �Easy Go�, layered with tenor saxophone trills. Becki Sue takes the first turn on lead vocals with �Natural Born Lover� � a barrelhouser with labour-inducing bluesharp by her co-frontman, Jim King (also playing sax throughout the CD). There�s no disputing that Becki Sue has the lung-power of Big Mama Thornton and Janis Joplin combined (with a slight yodel, to boot). Unlike the music performed by those dearly departed ladies of the blues, though, these blues songs are interpreted for the purpose of rockin�, not cryin�, the blues. Her voice also has a unique, deep timbre that doesn�t really remind me of anyone. �Mean, Mean Man�, again with Becki Sue on vocals, owes much to the Wanda Jackson/Carl Perkins school of rock�n�roll, but �Cross-Eyed Cat� gives Jim King a chance to funk up the blues, vocally and on sweetly resonating bluesharp � great wrist action by Tom on guitar. The action temporarily slows down to a rhythmic strut on �Whiskey Drinkin Woman� (with Jim crooning on vocals) before Becki Sue returns with a splendid vocal tantrum on �No! I Ain�t Gonna Let You Go�. I could hear that exclamation mark, further punctuated by saxophone, when she hollers, �No�. Becki Sue is well-matched with Jim King in fronting this band � there�s nothing subtle in this man�s furiously soulful bluesharp and tenor sax attacks. It�s easily the best upbeat track on the CD, with upright bassist Les White and drummer Jeff Hayes giving the bottom end a heavyweight groove. A temporary sonic reprieve is granted on Ike Turner�s �I Got Love If You Want It�, featuring wonderful harmony vocals and sweet-soul harmonica. It�s back to musical mania with �Call Me Rockin��, a pogo-hopping Zydeco-influenced rocker, with rapid-fire harmonica replacing the usual accordion � this one�s a good cardiac workout for those already in shape for it. If not, look out! �Just Your Fool�, with Becki Sue on vocals, is held down by a great bass line by Les, which allows Jeff to stretch out and get rhythmically creative on drums. Jim King�s harmonica sounds especially joyful here. I�m not sure if this song is the band�s original (without any liner notes provided), but it�s got great lyrics. The sultry guitar wizardry in �Lou�s Waterbed� works well in tandem with the earth-moving saxophone. It�s an instrumental lowdown dirty blues that every exotic dancer should include in her dance routine. If this one doesn�t make it into a film somewhere, I�ll eat my words. �I Can�t Stop It� swings the blues, Downchild-style, but it�s played presto, so, again, unless you�re a very young thing or in excellent physical shape, I wouldn�t even attempt to dance to this. �Mean Mistreater� is a kick-ass, toe-tapping boogie shuffle that brings it home perfectly, but it�s followed by an enchanting double-time rhumba called �Stranger Blues�, the best number sung by Becki Sue, accompanied by innovative saxophone and a chiming guitar rhythm ending with a sizzle�and then a brief a capella repetition of �I Can�t Stop It�. This debut CD is stunning both in its intensity and diversity. |
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| THE. L.A.B. RESULTS - BECKI SUE & HER BIG ROCKIN' DADDIES! |