W.C. Spencer - Blues Explorer

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2004
Time:40:49 
Size:94,1 MB 
Label:Bluescat Music 
Styles:Blues/Modern Electric Blues/Harp Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. I Said the Blues - 2:52
 2. 44 Blues - 3:42
 3. Tell Me Momma - 3:04
 4. So Long - 3:44
 5. Kansas City - 2:40
 6. Down with the Blues - 2:52
 7. I'm Leavin' - 5:02
 8. Worried Life Blues - 2:47
 9. Mean Old Train - 2:40
10. Call On Me - 4:59
11. Fat Man Walking - 3:04
12. Key to the Highway - 3:18

It is a 12-song cd, 4 of them written by Spencer. Eight of the cuts are live with W.C. playing the Guitar, bass, harp, drums and singing at the same time. That comes from the notes on the cd, I find that hard to believe, but if it's true W.C. Spencer must be one hell of an artist and act to see live. The Title of the cd is "Blues Explorer" it is appropriately titled because this is the travelers' blues music and an explorer must travel. The voice is clear with plenty of guitar, harp, and beat. The lyrics are cleaver and it will keep your foot tapping. He mixes in some jump blues that will get you jumping up and dancing then sitting you back down gently to appreciate the blues. The first song is a dandy, "I Said The Blues," written by Spencer. It starts you off rockin with a classic upbeat blues tempo. The second follows suit with a Chester Burnet song "Forty Four." "Tell me Momma" (cut 3) is a cleaver traveling song about the other man running out the back door. "So Long" (cut 4) is a beautiful blues ballad with no words. You can almost add your own words thinking about the previous song, a nice connection between the two, but a sharp contrast in beat and tempo. Cut 9 is "Mean Old Train" and that harp has it rolling down the tracks. Cut 10 is "Call on Me," a slow dance song, and a very good transition to what will make you sit back down and just listen to the blues. The cover art depicts Spencer's guitar hovering over the planet earth like a blues explorer spaceship. The music was recorded between 1999 and 2003 in Maryland and released the next year. In memory of Tommy Bankhead with thanks to the St. Louis Blues Society.

Blues Explorer