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Bonnie Bramlett and Mr.
Groove Band - Roots, Blues & Jazz (Zoho)
Released - March 2006
First radio station I ever worked at was a clichéd 500-watt AM
day-timer, outside of Detroit. In the summer of 1970, we played the hell
out of "Soul Shake," by Delaney (Bramlett) and Bonnie, a husband-wife act.
Every time I'd hear that - or the slightly bigger hit, "Never Ending Song
of Love," I'd always wonder what happened to them.
The real name was "Delaney and Bonnie and Friends." The "friends" included
people like Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Dave Mason and that guitar fellow
- what was his name?
Oh, yeah. Clapton.
The marriage and the group broke up in 1972. "Never Ending Song of Love"
was the high point. My dog-eared Whitburn "Top Pop" guide says it peaked
at number 13. The marriage produced one daughter, Bekka. I missed the
"comeback" albums from the 70s. Never liked "Roseanne" in the 80s and 90s,
so I never knew that Ms. Bramlett had a part in that.
Frankly, I expected to be disappointed. I figured I'd listen to the disc,
dig out "Never Ending Song of Love," play that, get nostalgic for a
minute, jot off a "pass" note to the publicist, and be done with it.
Things didn't turn out that way.
First, the band. This is a top-notch Nashville group that has been
together for some 20-odd years.
There's a little bit of everything on this outing - jazz, blues, ballads,
and some good old rock and roll. This band is more than up to the task.
Ms. Bramlett lights this disc up right from the start, with a soaring,
high-energy gospel cover of Steven Stills' "Love The One You're With." Tim
Gordon's sax is the icing on the cake.
"I'm confessin'" is my favorite from the standards bunch, although there's
a sweetness to "That Lucky Old Sun" that had me playing it several times
before going to the next track. "I Can Laugh About It Now" is original -
penned by Ms. Bramlett and her daughter. "Gotcha" is another original
that'll have you looking to rattle the windows. The third original
(keep in mind that Ms. Bramlett co-wrote "Superstar" with Leon Russell) is
"Carefree," with lyrics deeper than the breezy execution.
"Harlem Nocturne" is the
climax to Ms. Bramlett's voice and Mr. Gordon's sax.
Push the "eject" button, and I swear - smoke will come out of the
slot.
This is Ms. Bramlett's comeback. Highly recommended, it's clear
that this is a well-planned, well-executed, well-produced recording. This
band (and Mr. Gordon's saxophone) might have been able to carry it with
just about anyone. But this isn't just anyone. This is Bonnie
Bramlett - alternately sweet, sassy, loud. First white Ikette, and oh, no
- you cannot take the Ikette out of this woman.
The record label fellow is quoted in the propaganda as saying, "...the
tastes of many of Bonnie's fans from the 1970s have migrated from Rock to
Jazz and Blues, as have Bonnie's."
It seems nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.
Thank goodness.
  Three
and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(02/24/06) |
