Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 1

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2021
Time: 48:28 
Size: 111,1 MB 
Label: Blue Heart
Styles: Blues/Modern Electric Blues/Blues Rock
Art: Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Show Me How You Do It (feat. Yates Mckendree) - 3:35
 2. Takes One to Know One (feat. Anson Funderburgh) - 4:08
 3. Rose-Colored Glasses (feat. James Pennebaker & Nicki Bluhm) - 3:06
 4. I Got a Love I Wanna Hold on to (feat. Billy Watts) - 3:51
 5. All You Ever Bring Me is the Blues (feat. Johnny Lee Schell) - 4:31
 6. Wish It into the Cornfield (feat. Anson Funderburgh) - 4:02
 7. Once the World Stops Ending (feat. Dean Parks) - 4:57
 8. Everybody Everybody - 4:05
 9. Things Ain't Like That (feat. Lee Roy Parnell) - 4:17
10. When My Baby Comes Home (feat. Michael Starr) - 3:45
11. Rise Together (feat. Snuffy Walden) - 3:44
12. Gimme Some Skin (feat. David Millsap) - 4:21

If you needed any encouragement to check out Rose-Colored Glasses Vol 1, the new album by celebrated blues singer, Teresa James and her band The Rhythm Tramps, released September 17th on Blue Heart Records, you could take note that James is riding the crest of the wave right now. After a dozen albums, Blues Music Award and Grammy nominations, James herself, over five decades has picked up more awards than can be mentioned here. More importantly, she’s rightfully earned her reputation as a singer’s singer. No less than Randy Newman chose James to perform a song in his honour, and she has worked Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Lee Roy Parnell, Neil Diamond, Walter Trout, and a host of other notables. Terry Wilson produces here, and take writing/co-writing credits, and James is backed by The Rhythm Tramps, a crack LA-based crew whose individual bios alone could make up an entire review. There are some very special guests present also, including the legendary Snuffy Walden, Lee Roy Parnell and Yates McKendree. The bottom line is that this a star-studded cast, led by one of the best blues singers around. As you’d expect, the quality is apparent from the first few seconds of opener, “Show Me How You Do It,” a sizzling, blues-soul number with a classic, smouldering sound. James’ voice is as enticing as ever, full of character and smooth as molasses. “Tell me how you feel, show me something that’s real,” she sings, over a slow-burning backdrop of heavy bass, muscular, ticking drums, rattling percussion and smoky guitar. “Takes One To Know One,” with its gorgeous, understated brass section, is another delight. The production here, as throughout the album, is wide, deep and warm, providing an ocean of embracing sound through which James’ voice is magical.“I Got A Love I Wanna Hold On To” ramps things back to a more basic, southern-blues sound, and is no less compelling. This is a track, and indeed an album, built on subtlety and nuance, be it ringing organ motifs, rising horns or guitar flourishes. Every part fuses together beautifully, including, of course, James’ peerless vocals. “The bottom line for me,” says the woman herself, “is that I just really love to sing more than anything in the world.” “Once The World Stops Ending” is a case in point, a wonderful 70s-feeling soul-blues workout, simmering with restraining might. James could sing any style and sound arresting, but here she is in her element, and this is a standout track.The deeply affecting “Everybody Everybody” almost matches it. A sparse, spectral arrangement which nevertheless shimmers and shines, there’s a slight hint of reggae here, a Caribbean flavour which adds an appealing twist. “Rise Together” takes us deep back into blues territory, propelled along by more of those luscious horns, organ chords and intoxicating drumming. “Gimme Some Skin” takes us out – an electrifying track that rocks and rolls good-naturedly with a positive and inspiring message. Rose-Colored Glasses Vol 1 by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps is a record which takes its time, assured of its destination and its journey. Everything herein is lovingly put together by some fantastic musicians. “It’s my passion. It’s my therapy,” says James. Give this one a listen and the album will soon by your passion and your therapy, also./

Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 1