PAUL ROSE – Double Life – CD review

PAUL ROSE
Double Life
MITA 2013

I’ve only had a passing acquaintance with the music of Geordie bluesman Paul Rose over his dozen or so albums, but always had him pegged as one of those fastest draw in town gunslinging guitarists who all sound a bit like Gary Moore.  So not really my cup of tea.  This record, however, is simply stunning.

A collection of standards and should be standards, the concept is that of Mr Rose paying homage to the music that inspired him, be that blues, soul and funk, in the company of some very special guests.  And those guests are of the calibre of former Ry Cooder affiliate Terry Evans, ex Was (Not Was) man Sweet Pea Atkinson and Raffia Ford.  Nae shite allowed.

Now if you think that you really don’t need to hear another version of ‘Honey Hush’, ‘Stormy Monday Blues’ or ‘Dark End Of The Street’, then I would normally be right there with you, tutting and pooh-poohing.  But we’d be wrong.  Because if you don’t listen to Raffia Ford singing and Paul Rose guitaring on ‘Honey Hush’ then you are a fool.

There isn’t a bad moment on this record ever, with some of the highlights being Sweet Pea Atkinson on  ‘Ball & Chain’ and Terry Evans on the aforementioned ‘Dark End Of The Street’.  Of the songs I was less familiar with, Sweet Pea Atkinsons take on Ben Latimore’s 1974 ballad ‘Let’s Straighten It Out’, had the hanky needing a good wringing out, and the Rolling Stones affiliate Bernard Fowlers version of ‘Drowning In The Sea Of Love’ is just amazing.

Blues / soul album of the year?  Probably.

Buy at Amazon

Don’t forget to tune into Mr H every Thursday at 8pm, Her Majestys Great British time, when you will find him Rockin’ The Blues on that there internet radio.