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DVDfever.co.uk – Eddie C. Campbell: Tear This World Up CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Delmark Records
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 10/10++
Renaissance mans stunning return. Long overdue.
Aged 70, Eddie C. Campbell may have thought his recording career was shot; now he gets another chance to impress us all over again. Delmark Records have come to the rescue with an outstanding album.
Having moved to the Windy City from Mississippi aged 10, he jammed with Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, and Otis Rush at the age of 12. Later he played side-man to Howlin Wolf, Little Walter Little Johnny Taylor and Jimmy Reed. Such was his reputation; Willie Dixon (admired by all members of Led Zeppelin) invited him to join the Chicago Blues All-Stars in 1976. Campbell is proud of these associations as he rolls out a list of glitterati on the final track Bluesman. Like he says hes a real bluesman. Hes played with then, but more importantly, theyve played with him!
Tear This World Up could be his final hoorah, (his last offering was a decade ago- Gonna Be Alright) so hes keen to impress with his famed ringing West-Side style.As the last of the originators of the West Side style, Campbell has steadfastly kept things in the now, and were all the better for it, and so is he. This sizzling set of Chicago blues varies from funky danceable sojourns to plain balladeering with an emphasis on reverb and vibrato, used to devastating effect.
That said theres nothing (like all great guitarists) gratuitous about his playing its all very disciplined and mightily effective, as youd expect from an old master. Okay, so he goes a little wild, but its stylish stuff found on the jumping instrumental All Nite (a remake of a single he cut for Hawaii Records in the late 60s) and rockabilly-tinged Love Me With A Felling. Plenty of twang and its cool.
He opens this box of delights with a Howlin Wolf-like shuffle Makin Popcorn, a humorous little tale wish bounces along with a tight rhythm with only a dash of solos on the ¾ mark.Big World is frenetic with a thumping beat but it soon turns into exhibitionism as he rolls out the licks with style.
His skills eventually come to the fore on the smooth and silky Easy Baby written by his buddy Magic Sam . The laidback groove allows his him to texturise with edgy chords and picks and its mind-boggling to hear this technician at work.If there are budding guitarists reading this, then Voodoo is the track to check. With its spooky bayou groove it has some of the best guitar playing Ive ever heard – every finger-snapping trick in the book can be found including multiple guitar parts.
My Last Affair is one the purists will lap up. This steady R&B gem has all the hallmarks of Mississippi delta with a unique twist as he flicks the picks with a measured abandon. For a bit of fun, he does a thunderous take of George Gershwins standard Summertime without losing the jazz classics sensibilities.
One thing overlooked so far, is his fine vocal range, and Summertime gives him the platform to do some gymnastics sounding much like Robert Cray.
The verdict: The real deal. Go buy!
Weblink:myspace.com/eddieccampbell (includes audio samples)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Makin Popcorn
2. Big World
3. Easy Baby
4. Tie Your Time Up
5. Voodoo
6. Love Me With A Feeling
7. Vibrations In The Air
8. Care
9. Its So Easy
10. My Last Affair
11. Im Just Your Fool
12. All Nite
13. Summertime
14. Bluesman
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.