― bran van 3030, Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:19 (twenty years ago)
― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)
― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 18:42 (twenty years ago)
― j blount (papa la bas), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)
― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)
― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)
― j blount (papa la bas), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:04 (twenty years ago)
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)
― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)
And Strong Persuader is a super classic.
― Scott CE (Scott CE), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)
― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)
― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:49 (twenty years ago)
― m coleman (lovebug starski), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)
― Stormy Davis (diamond), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 20:48 (twenty years ago)
NO LOVE. Listen to Sharon Jones or something if you must. Christ.
― sleeve (sleeve), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)
― pdf (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 22:13 (twenty years ago)
"Strong Persuader" is a strong one, if only for the fact the dude had a top 20 single with "Smoking Gun".
Another unheralded classic from the Cray cannon is "Midnight Stroll" from 1990. The song "These Things" is one of the most impassioned soul pieces since the big O. It always raises the hair on the back of my neck.
And no mention yet of Cray's guitar playing. So muscular and economical. Perhaps what makes Cray so unique is the way he integrates funk, soul and blues chops into his playing. Just listen to the way he plucks and snaps the strings off the fretboard. He claims a lot of his style was derived from trying to play like Albert Collins. Cray would figure out crazy bends and licks in standard tuning that Albert Collins played in a C minor tuning with a capo. That's crazy.
Then there's those Ryko straight-up soul albums from the late 90s, early 00s. "Take Your Shoes Off" is a must have for any fan of Southern Soul. Breathtaking stuff.
Cray is mega classic just for the albums/cuts listed above.
― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 00:08 (twenty years ago)
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 01:20 (twenty years ago)
listening to him live on the radio, his 4 piece is supertight so far, and _really_ full sounding. his voice is as always a bit thin and trebly, but shit, pretty great considering it's 20whatever. totally lost track of him and it's not my genre, but impressive to me.
― blot it out (Hunt3r), Monday, 3 March 2014 03:10 (twelve years ago)
Never heard Clapton play better live than when Cray was his foil. Cray's Live From Across The Pond is fascinating, the songs and performance. Where was this broadcast from? Maybe I can find it posted.
― dow, Monday, 3 March 2014 03:59 (twelve years ago)
Or maybe he's still playing!
― dow, Monday, 3 March 2014 04:00 (twelve years ago)
Think this guy is pretty great at what he does, what he's carrying the torch for. Was a big fan of Strong Persuader and saw him touring on it. Listened to some more recent stuff a while back and thought it was pretty good. Would definitely go and see him live again.
― In Walked Sho-Bud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 4 March 2014 02:55 (twelve years ago)
Robert Cray is one of those acts that, like Los Lobos, never really seemed to drop off but that everyone, collectively, just stopped talking about. Like some secret memo circulated.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 30 August 2016 13:58 (nine years ago)
An amazing song, much better than "Smoking Gun."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2EvSNHqh0
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 13 September 2016 14:15 (nine years ago)
wow that's super good stuff
― though she denies it to the press, (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Tuesday, 13 September 2016 14:53 (nine years ago)
so well-written
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 13 September 2016 15:30 (nine years ago)
i'm cray for cray!
― nomar, Tuesday, 13 September 2016 16:58 (nine years ago)
Oh yeah. Good description of his playing by Brooker B. upthread. Strong Persuader is still prob the place to start, but don't sleep on the live double I mentioned in this show preview several years ago:
The Robert Cray BandThursday @ LC Pavilion
Eric Clapton has never displayed more of an audacious flare than he did in the early 90s, when he challenged himself and singer-guitarist-bandmate Robert Cray in concert. Some of this is evident on Clapton’s “24 Nights”, although Cray’s own live albums are where he shines brightest. On “Live From Across The Pond”, Cray follows and pursues through desperate phone calls and dreamy shower stalls, hotel parties and battlefields. In volatile ballads and veering vehicles, sometimes fueled by funk, soul, rock and Caribbean sources, Cray’s blues are unmistakably his own.
― dow, Tuesday, 13 September 2016 17:38 (nine years ago)
man i love "i should go to her...but what would i say?" it's such a beautiful compaction of humane impulse and selfish response.
― popcorn michael awaits trumptweet (Hunt3r), Monday, 19 June 2017 21:29 (eight years ago)