A Slight Departure From The Norm...

You know I originally created this blog in order to spout about the various things that I like to spout about. As it turned out so far, it been politics, politics, & politics. One would think that's all that I'm about. Well, aside from my family, my biggest passion is music. Mostly making my own as a bassist, harmonicist, slide guitarist, sometime keyboardist and background vocalist (and lately percussion as well). I will say that even with greater than 35 years musical experience, my biggest contribution to the field of music has been as a fan and observer of the industry as well. I even thought at one time about giving a seminar pertaining to the effect of popular music upon modern culture from the 1950's through the 1970's. I generally stop around 1978/79 because I (and this is only my opinion) feel that post 1970s music did not have the same shaping effect upon culture as did the music prior. It was actually in the early 1980s around the time of "Thriller" (Michael Jackson for those of you under rocks) and Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" that the business part of the term "music business" became more important than the music part. During the "great cultural revolution" of the sixties & seventies, the producers & executives had little knowledge of music (one exception was the great Amhet Ertegun of Atlantic Records fame). This allowed the artist more creative freedom in the writing and producing stages of the recordings. By the beginning of the 80's the younger "hipper" generation was moving up the executive ladders of the record companies. Those individuals who had no musical talent, but wanted to be a part of "The Scene" were now calling the shots at the major labels, radio stations, distribution companies, and music press. Also, once the two previously mentioned recordings shattered sales records through shrewd marketing of each individual song as a single, the so-called "filler" material, the deeper cuts if you will, were no longer allowed to be a part of "the product". Imagine "Let It Be" without "One After 909" or "Beyond The Universe". Imagine "Sticky Fingers" without "Dead Flowers" or "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". Imagine "Led Zepplin IV" without "The Battle Of Evermore" or "When The Levee Breaks". You get the point. For this reason one notices sterility and a sameness start creeping into music around the end of the eighties. I will grant that the time period itself from around 1964 to 1979 was a time of social upheaval and lent itself to a more creative and open minded atmosphere which fomented a rush of tremendous (and not-so-tremendous) talent. Even the not-so-great artists stumbled upon a few really good, if not great songs. By the time the internet & indie music scenes arrived the rot had set in so far as to infect the minds of the songwriters and the very creative process itself. While the new delivery vehicles of self-produced CDs (I did four from 1994 - 2000), and digital downloads did a tremendous amount to breaking down the barriers, it also ran amok without any quality control allowing a huge amount of drivel (like I said, I did four CDs between 1994 - 2000). That is a brief encapsulation of my treatise on "The Music Business"...

This whole blog was leading up to me saying that about a year and a half ago I found that CD which I could finally call different. Now, I found it on a music sharing site, downloaded the whole album, put it on my iPod and occasionally listened to it. But then during one listening I just couldn't stop when all 17 (!) songs had finished and had to listen again. And again. And again. Then I felt so guilty I went out and purchased the CD to support the artist in hopes of more releases like this one. That's actually the way the music posters on the internet claim that the music on their blogs and sites are supposed to be used. In reality in very rarely occurs that way.

Anyway, that CD the one that is now my current favorite is "The Mighty Jeremiahs" self titled disc. The reasons this recording can be considered worthy of standing out from the mass produced pablum are simple. Good music and a good message. The best way to describe this stuff would be...ohhh, I dunno...an old time southern baptist gospel revival cross bread with the southern rock stuff of the seventies smattered with a little Jimi Hendrix and spewed out through a Chicago/Delta blues filter. This is down-home gritty, good time, roots boogie with a spiritual message. In the past this kind of music was called "the devil's music". NO MORE! You're going to need the refreshing breath of fresh air that the lyrical content provides - your feet won't stop tappin' and your bones won't stop boogying. That this rollicking, rocking recording is so much fun comes as no surprise considering that the band is fronted by Wet Willie's Jimmy Hall on Harp & Vocals and Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters on some of the most authentic guitar that been recorded since Elmore James. The group is rounded out by Taildraggers Mark Hendricks and Jon McGee. The luminaries that guest on "The Mighty Jeremiahs" include other members of the Kentucky Headhunters (THEY were my favorite band throughout the drought of the 90s), Ricky Lee Phelps, and the late, supurb vocal talent Bonnie Bramlett among many others. I can't really pick a favorite on this disc, (Okay twist my arm) but if I had to it would be the humorous "Ain't No Room In This House For Hell" or maybe "Tell The Truth". Both are straight out of the swamp barrelhouse boogie, the former featuring a rare vocal from the Headhunters' drummer Richard Young. One would swear that you're listening to the great Elmore James proclaim his faith on "Walk With Me, Jesus". There are some breathtaking moments during the groups interpretations of "Amazing Grace" and the Otis Redding classic "That's How Strong My Love Is". This brilliant journey begins with their version of the Son House number "John The Revelator" and rollicks and caresses the listener to redemption. This is certainly my favorite release of this millenium, especially in an era that cries out for greater spiritual awareness and - in these trying times - a little bit of good old down home American Rock with the Roll included...

For more info - they have myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/mightyjeremiahs Portions of the disc are available for listening there.

All the major music site have the CD with sample clips available as well.

Unless listening to straight up, straight from the heart rootsy blues rock augment with open proclamations of faith offends you, this is a 100% pure real deal. Ya can't go wrong here...