Robert Cray has been bridging the lines between blues,
soul and R&B for the past four decades, with five Grammy wins and over 20
acclaimed albums. For his latest project, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, the
Blues Hall of Famer traveled to Memphis with his friend, renowned Grammy Award
winning producer Steve Jordan, to make a classic soul album with Hi Rhythm, the
band that helped create that sound. Jordan and Cray met in 1987 while working
on the concert film Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll, a tribute to Chuck Berry. Steve
produced Robert's Grammy winning Take Your Shoes Off in 1999, and a number of
other albums, including the exciting 4 Nights of 40 Years Live.
He knew of
Robert's deep love of O.V. Wright and other Memphis soul legends, and suggested
they take up residence at Royal Studios, where Wright, Ann Peebles, Al Green,
Syl Johnson, Otis Clay and many others recorded with the venerable producer,
songwriter, arranger and engineer, Willie Mitchell.
The core of Mitchell's Hi
Rhythm band used on many of those landmark sessions was still around, though
Mitchell himself had passed in 2010. Set inside an old theatre, the funky Royal
Studios looks much as it did when Al Green was cutting those classics for Hi
Records. Guitarist Teenie Hodges has passed away, but his brothers Rev. Charles
Hodges (organ and piano) and Leroy "Flick" Hodges (bass), along with
cousin Archie "Hubbie" Turner (keyboards), were still there. "It
was a soul, rhythm and blues, fantasy camp for us. Those guys have been playing
in that room for 50 years," says Jordan. Robert penned "You Had My
Heart" and "The Way We Are," two stunning love songs.
Many
timeless soul songs were statements in a time of turmoil, and so it is again
with Cray's "Just How Low." The album opens with a driving, soulful
version of Bill Withers' "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh" that
sounds as if it was originally from an old Hi Rhythm recording. Jay-Vee Records
knows it's very lucky to have these powerful songs. When Robert chose two Tony
Joe White songs for the album, White, a big fan of Cray, came up from Nashville
to sit in. First up is the moving ballad "Aspen, Colorado" (the
sister song of his "Rainy Night in Georgia"). The other end of the
spectrum is the swirling psychedelia of "Don't Steal My Love." The
tribute to O.V. Wright and Hi Rhythm is the horn-driven version of "You
Must Believe in Yourself." Known for writing "Mustang Sally" and
many other songs, Sir Mac Rice's "I Don't Care" follows on the album
with an unforgettable hook, and Rice's funky "Honey Bad" features
more guitar brilliance from Cray. Moving into early R&B from the 5 Royales,
Robert performs "I'm With You Pt.1" then turns the guitar loose on
"I'm With You Pt 2."
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