THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT
2-DELIVER ME
3-DIANE
4-ANGELS
5-JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT
6-STRONGER
7-THRILL OF IT
8-BLESSED
9-LOVE IS THE ONLY WAY
10-THANKFUL AND THOUGHTFUL
11-HOMECOMING
ROBERT RANDOPH AND THE FAMILY BAND-UNCLASSIFIELD-2003
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(11-TRACKS)
1-GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
2-I NEED MORE LOVE
3-NOBODY
4-SOUL REFRESHING
5-ZQUEEZE
6-SMILE
7-GOOD TIMES
8-WHY SHOULD I FEEL LONELY
9-CALYPSO
10-PROBLEMS
11-RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND
LIVE AT THE WETLANDS-2002
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(7-TRACKS)
1-TED'S JAM
2-THE FAMILY
3-PRESSING MY WAY
4-SHAKE YOUR HIPS
5-I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU COME TO DO
6-TEARS OOF JOY
Robert Randolph received his education on the pedal steel guitar at a House Of God church in Orange,New Jersey.The origins of that church date back to the early 1900's,and in the 1930's those
congregations developed the use of the pedal and lap steel guitar as an-instrument for worship services in lieu of the much more expensive,Though more traditional organ. Randolph's family encouraged Robert to learn the instrument at age 15,but it wasn't until he was 17 that his interest in mastering the pedal steel intensified, and ultimately engulfed his life. Randolph plays the finest pedal steel guitar I've ever had the pleasure of hearing, and his funky jam-rock approach on 'Live At the Wetlands' also whets my appetite. This recording was made shortly prior to the closing of The Wetlands venue four days after the Twin Towers came down in New York City. For thirteen years what was once an urban warehouse had served double-duty as a center for environmental activism as well as a concert venue for up-and-coming artists.It's clear from the host's introduction and the reaction of the crowd to Randolph's set that the Family Band had become-something of a fixture at the 500-seat capacity Wetlands, and that Randloph possessed a special reverence for that venue as well. My two favorite tracks on the disc are the thirteen minute opener, a rollicking instrumental titled 'Ted's Jam', written by Randolph (as are all the tracks on the disc, save the cover of Slim Harpo's 'Shake Your Hips'), but inspired by pedal steel legend Ted Beard(ironically, Randolph's father wed the daughter of Ted Beard, establishing the connection), and the next to last track, the similarly extended boogie number, 'I Don't Know What You Come To Do'.And 'Pressing My Way' and the closer 'Tears of Joy', bring a bit of the blues into the set,While 'The March' features a sound closer to the virtuoso work of Duane Allman than anyone has produced since his death in 1971.The Family Band gains its moniker from the fact that Randolph's rhythm section, two-thirds of his support, are cousins Danyell Morgan on bass and Marcus Randolph on drums.While this may smirk of cronyism, both Danyell and Marcus are clearly up to the task of backing-Randolph, with Danyell delivering scorching bass lines and inspired vocals, and Marcus a sharp, penetrating beat. John Ginty adds organ fills, but they're all but lost in Randolph's exquisite runs on the pedal steel. In past interviews Randolph has admitted that he "was a bad kid" while growing up, but the pedal steel has proven to be the tool God used to deliver him from a life of crime and poverty.He claims his music seeks to bring listeners closer to the Holy Spirit, and while on the surface a Gospel connection may be difficult to discern,There is plenty of soul to be discovered in his work,And his energy is overwhelmingly positive.The only thing better to hearing Randolph's energy exude from this disc is seeing him live, a treat I recently witnessed on an edition of the PBS production 'Austin City Limits'. It's hard to imagine any fan of funk, boogie, soul, or rock, not finding something to like in the music of Robert Randolph. .
About the Album Unclassifield:
Excellent followup for Robert Randolph and the Family Band's underground classic "Live at the Wetlands." Those who liked that CD will be pleased with this one. Most of this consists of tunes that this excellent group has been performing live over the last year, like "Run For Your Life," "Good Times," and "Squeeze." Once again, John Ginty plays the heck out of his organ and Marcus Randolph and Danyel Morgan in fine support (though it would be nice if this one had more of Danyel's soaring vocals). Overall, this is good stuff, particularly the songs that I have just mentioned. Real get-up and go music with a positive energy not often found in tunes of recent times. "Soul Refershing" is simply beautiful and "Smile" is interesting (Robert's sister Lenesha does the vocals here)"Calypso" (not to be confused with the Harry belafonte tune of the same name) is an interesting
novelty. A few of the songs (like "I Need More Love") are somewhat lacking in the right mix of melody and energy that characteris\zes this group-but a so-so song from these guys are better than the best of a lot of what's out there now! I would suggest that those who may be interested in this start with "Live at the Wetlands" before going on to "Unclassified." That will give you a better preperation for this. Then pick up "The Word" (RR without the Family Band) and the "Sacred Steel" Cds after you listen to "Unclassified." Then see these guys live and you will have hope for the future of American popular music.This is a unique blend of Jimi Hendrix,And Stevie Ray Vaughn, Allman Brothers, and lots of funk and blues. And the blend works very well in my opinion. This CD goes from upbeat to slow blues and everything in between.Is this a big-tent revival? A funky throwdown? A jam-band juggernaut? Unclassified is all that, and so much more. The story of Robert Randolph is Hollywood-issue: kid from the gritty Jersey streets is saved from the bad life by playing steel guitar in a House of God Church. Of course, it wouldn't mean a thing if the guy couldn't play, but he can really tear it up. By updating the sacred-steel tradition with heavy doses of blues, funk, and rock, he's not only emerged with his own sound, but he's brought the music full circle, returning those pop-music styles to their gospel roots. The disc reaches some terrific heights from the very start with a fiery trio of opening songs: "Going in the Right Direction," -"I Need More Love," and "Nobody" are joyous, uplifting romps brimming with the fervor of gospel music. Four instrumentals show the breadth of the sound, from the country-tinged "Squeeze" to the modal and slightly spaced-out "Calypso" to the scorching gospel-infused closer "Run for Your Life." A couple of the slower tunes impede the album's momentum, but at its best Unclassified comes awfully close to capturing the intensity of the Family Band's live shows--which is no small feat indeed.
About the Album ColourBlind:
Colorblind isn't an adequate title for this album. Randolph's follow-up to 2003's Grammy-nominated Unclassified is bright and energetic as a tie-dye-patterned pinwheel. Mostly its 11 tunes are about grooves plucked from the era of Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder, dappled with brilliant classic rock musicianship (think Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck) and driven by frenetic verve.When things slow down, it's usually to let the young pedal steel virtuoso revisit his roots in the Holiness Church, although the team of pop-world songwriters he collaborates with make the lyrics of Randolph's R&B hymns ambiguous between devotion to a woman or to God. Guests Dave Matthews (singing backup on "Love Is the Only Way") and Eric Clapton (lending second guitar to a hot-but-rote cover of the Doobie Brothers' hit "Jesus Is Just Alright") are oddly subdued, but neo-soul diva Leela James puts sex and smolder into her duet with Randolph on "Stronger." Ultimately, though, this album's all about Randolph himself, who has loosened his grip on the blues and gospel bedrock of his earlier playing to become a master of flashy funk and rock riffs and the owner of a tone so gargantuan it's earned him a place in rock-guitar Olympus--if not Heaven.Robert Randolph and the Family Band may be `Colorblind," but they sure are colorful. From the first strains of "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That" to the last notes of the album closer "Homecoming," Randolph and his band switch styles more often than Christina Aguilera changes outfits. Whichever direction they lean, though, the band brings on the righteous funk with an energy that is almost supernatural. "Colorblind" is a nasty funk lollipop dipped in sanctified soul, then sprinkled with rock and roll energy. I dare you to listen to this CD while sitting down - this is music that could make a paraplegic do the moonwalk. "Colorblind" is a high energy romp that demands participation, both physically and emotionally. Personally, I think it's great that a musician as talented as Robert Randolph can use his outsized talent for something greater than simply blowing my socks off. While the playing is never less than stellar, the message always takes precedence; family, brotherhood, faith and happiness are in abundance here, but the material never sinks into a sea of platitudes. There is simply too much energy for any of the songs to get bogged down by their message. "Jesus Is Just Alright" is an old Doobie Brothers warhorse that had been sent to pasture years ago but by some miracle (and with a bit of help from Eric Clapton) Randolph and the family band make it sound like a Derby winner. Randolph might be one of the most exciting guitar players alive today, but "Colorblind" proves that he also has the smarts to let the band play like a band, and to let the songs speak for themselves. If you want to have a good time while listening to some high energy, inspired music, then pick up "Colorblind".
About The Album Live At The Wetlands:
This album's all about the blazing virtuosity of Robert Randolph. The pop-music arrival of the young pedal-steel guitarist from the Pentecostal church was shepherded last year by the North Mississippi Allstars and groove organist John Medeski in a brilliant album and group called The Word. With his own Family Band and just one spiritual, the lovely "Pressing My Way," on the set list, Randolph sends lightning bolts through the audience in this August 2001 recording at a now-shuttered Manhattan club. He blends the showmanship of his blues inspiration, Stevie Ray Vaughan, with his own unique instrumental mastery, transforming his steel guitar into something more like a lead vocalist. Randolph constantly makes his 13-string guitar play call-and-response with his own singing, and he breathes fire into Slim Harpo's chestnut "Shake Your Hips" by making it a field day for his stabbing splashes of notes and chords, inventing a different melody for his long solos that's more western swing than swamp blues. Although the shout-and-stomp-along original, "I Don't Know What You Come to Do," raises the crowd, it's the 11-minute finale, "Tears of Joy," that is Randolph's showstopper.The tune's a crafty summation of all his gifts: slow, sliding, rich-toned notes and low-buzzing chords;Rhythms that pull from the stately qualities of gospel(Enhanced by the Way Randolph's steel blends with John Ginty's Hammond organ)And the pure exhilaration of rock improvisation; and beautiful tones that echo from honky-tonk to Hendrix. It's the musical equivalent of a white-water thrill ride. http://www.myspace.com/robertrandolph
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