Robben Ford & The Blue Line

Trackimage Playbut Trackname Playbut Trackname
Start It Up 03:48 Tools
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood 00:00 Tools
Chevrolet 00:00 Tools
Rugged Road 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here 00:00 Tools
The Miller's Son 03:22 Tools
Top Of The Hill 00:00 Tools
You Cut Me To The Bone 00:00 Tools
My Love Will Never Die 00:00 Tools
I Just Want To Make Love To You 00:00 Tools
Running Out On Me 00:00 Tools
Good Thing 00:00 Tools
Step On It 00:00 Tools
Think Twice 00:00 Tools
Prison Of Love 00:00 Tools
Life Song (One For Annie) 00:00 Tools
The Brother (For Jimmie & Stevie) 04:45 Tools
Strong Will To Live 00:00 Tools
I'm A Real Man 00:00 Tools
Tired Of Talkin' 00:00 Tools
Worried Life Blues 00:00 Tools
Tell Me I'm Your Man 07:44 Tools
He Don't Play Nothin' But The Blues 00:00 Tools
Busted Up 04:40 Tools
Politician 03:55 Tools
Misdirected Blues 00:00 Tools
Moth to a Flame 00:00 Tools
Mystic Mile 00:00 Tools
The Plunge 00:00 Tools
Help The Poor 00:00 Tools
Say What's on Your Mind 00:00 Tools
Trying to Do the Right Thing 00:00 Tools
I Don't Play 00:00 Tools
The Brother 00:00 Tools
Tired of Talkin 00:00 Tools
Lovin' Cup 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here - Original Version 00:00 Tools
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying 00:00 Tools
Talk To Your Daughter 00:00 Tools
Tell I'm Your Man 06:14 Tools
When I Leave Here (Original) 00:00 Tools
The Brother (For Jimmie And Stevie) 00:00 Tools
Life Song 00:00 Tools
Lovin' Cup - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here (Live at Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
Help the Poor - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
Start It Up (Live At Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
Chevrolet - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
Chevrolet (Live At Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
Top Of The Hill (Live At Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
Help The Poor (Live At Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
Tired Of Talkin' (Live At Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
The Brother - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
I'm Mad at You 00:00 Tools
Trying To Get The Right Thing 00:00 Tools
Lovin' Cup (Live At Yoshi's) 00:00 Tools
My Love Is True 00:00 Tools
Miller's Son - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
Waiting for a Miracle 00:00 Tools
Tired of Talkin' - Live 1998 00:00 Tools
The Brother - Live 00:00 Tools
He Dont Play Nothin' But The Blues 00:00 Tools
He Don't Play Nothin' But The 00:00 Tools
Chevrolet (Original) 00:00 Tools
You Cut Me to the Bone - Live 00:00 Tools
Start It Up - Live 00:00 Tools
Prison of Love - Live 00:00 Tools
Lovin' Cup (Live) 00:00 Tools
Say, what's on your mind 00:00 Tools
Tell I'm Your Man - Live 00:00 Tools
Step on It - Live 00:00 Tools
Worried Life Blues - Live 00:00 Tools
Tired of Talkin' (Original) 00:00 Tools
Help the Poor - Live 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here (Original Version) 00:00 Tools
No Idea What This Ones Called (Bonus Track) 00:00 Tools
The Brother (For Jimmy & Stevie) 00:00 Tools
Top of the Hill (Original) 00:00 Tools
01 - He Don't Play Nothin' But The Blues 00:00 Tools
Talk to Your Daughter - Live 00:00 Tools
Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues 00:00 Tools
I just want to make love to yo 00:00 Tools
Black Top Blues 00:00 Tools
Start It Up - Live At Yoshi's 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here - Live at Yoshi's 00:00 Tools
Chevrolet - Live At Yoshi's 00:00 Tools
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying (Live) 00:00 Tools
Start It Up (Live) 00:00 Tools
Indianola 00:00 Tools
Plunge, The 00:00 Tools
Don't Let Be Misunderstood 00:00 Tools
Yellowman - King Yellowman - M 00:00 Tools
Revelation 00:00 Tools
Lovin' Cup - Live At Yoshi's 00:00 Tools
Help The Poor (Live) 00:00 Tools
Born Under A Bad Sign 00:00 Tools
The Brother (Live) 00:00 Tools
Worried Life Blues (Live) 00:00 Tools
(I'm A) Real Man 00:00 Tools
My Brother (For Jimmie And Stevie) 00:00 Tools
You Cut Me To The Bone (Live) 00:00 Tools
Chevrolet [Live At Yoshi's] 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here [Original Version] 00:00 Tools
Wild About You (Can't Hold Out Much Longer) 00:00 Tools
Tired Of Talkin' - Live At Yoshi's 00:00 Tools
Step On It (Live) 00:00 Tools
I Just Want To Make Love To You - Handful Of Blues 00:00 Tools
Tell I'M Your Man (Live) 00:00 Tools
Dont Let Me Be Misunderstood 00:00 Tools
Miller's Son 00:00 Tools
When I Leave Here [Live at Yoshi's] 00:00 Tools
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' [Live At Yoshi's] 00:00 Tools
Worries Life Blues 00:00 Tools
Running Out On Me - Handful Of Blues 00:00 Tools
Don't Deny Your Love 00:00 Tools
Up the Line 00:00 Tools
The Brother (For Jimmie & Stevie Ray) 00:00 Tools
Good To Love 00:00 Tools
I've Been Down So Long 00:00 Tools
Brother 00:00 Tools
Hard To Please 00:00 Tools
I Got Over It 00:00 Tools
Talk To Your Daughter (Live) 00:00 Tools
Badge 00:00 Tools
  • 159,090
    plays
  • 18,108
    listners
  • 159090
    top track count

In the 1960s, long before pop artists were backed by the generic, computer-based accompaniment that is commonplace today, singers often recorded with formidable house bands, including Booker T. & the MG’s and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. The former band came together at Stax records in Memphis, laying down timeless grooves on hits by artists like Otis Redding, Albert King, and Carla Thomas. The latter group—based in Muscle Shoals, as well as New York and Nashville—enhanced such classic tracks as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” and Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome.” Growing up in the ’60s, a teenaged Robben Ford spent countless hours listening to artists like Aretha and Otis, at the same time soaking in guitar blues from Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, and B.B. King. In his early 20s, Ford went on to join blues luminary Jimmy Witherspoon’s band. But soon, Ford experienced a diversion from the genre. In 1974, the guitarist was discovered by saxophonist Tom Scott, whose progressive fusion group, L.A. Express, then teamed up with Joni Mitchell to support her Court and Spark tour and play on two of her albums (1974’s Miles of Isles and 1975’s The Hissing of Summer Lawn). Today, possessing a résumé that includes stints with an impressively broad range of other musical personalities—Miles Davis, George Harrison, Little Feat, and the Yellowjackets, among many others—Ford has demonstrated an uncanny adaptability similar to that of the MG’s and the Muscle Shoals group. The guitarist has effortlessly traversed genres without compromising his exquisite, blues-based playing and singing. So it’s only natural that on his latest album, Keep On Running (CCD-2187), Ford tips his hat to Muscle Shoals and the MG’s, offering fresh takes on soul classics, in addition to serving up several glowing originals. Keep On Running boasts a core group of heavyweight players—bassist Jimmy Earl and drummers Toss Panos and Steve Potts. Ford couldn’t be happier with his co-conspirators. Of the low-end, he raves, “Jimmy’s just about my favorite bassist in the world. He has a great feel, and he and I see eye-to-eye in terms of time; Jimmy is so comfortable to play with.” Ford is similarly praiseful of his percussionists: “Steve plays so beautifully. He can do rhythm ’n’ blues in such an authentic way, while at the same time sounding incredibly fresh. And I’ve played with Toss on the road for a couple of years now; I’ve really benefited from his unique feel.” Among other instrumentalists, Ford expanded the core group with a battery of keyboard players. But after the recording was completed, Ford, a relentless perfectionist, found that their sounds were incongruous. He explains, “At a certain point, I thought, ‘What’s wrong with this picture?’ It turned out I just didn’t want to hear the [Hammond] B3 [organ].” So Ford, himself a diligent multi-instrumentalist, redid most of the keyboard parts, using the more appropriate-sounding Wurlitzer electric piano. Ford’s journey throughout this CD, his second for Concord Records, covers many musical miles. Starting things off, the title track is a fresh though faithful cover of the Spencer Davis Group classic, which captured a then 17-year-old Steve Winwood on vocals. Joining the core cast here are Bob Malach on tenor sax and Edgar Winter on baritone; Ford expertly handles the guitar, vocal, and keyboard parts. “I really dug this record when I was growing up,” says Ford. “I’d been wanting to hear it again, but it only recently became available on CD. My producer [John Wooler] also had this song in mind. We worked up an arrangement at rehearsal recorded it.” “Over My Head” showcases Ford’s organic, breezy compositional style in a song dealing with the oldest of subjects: man chases woman, followed by heavy infatuation. Here, his smooth, blues guitar screams and moans in a perfect extension of the song’s soulful vocals. “‘Over My Head’ came from a casual guitar riff that I found myself playing one day,” says Ford. “The words tumbled out quite naturally. The riff seemed to suggest something many men go through as one point, or many times—meeting a woman you know is dangerous but find completely irresistible.” Ford was at first uncertain about “Can’t Do My Homework,” originally recorded by Otis Rush. The guitarist says, “We played the song, but it has such a camp lyric. It felt so good, though, and was so much fun to play, that we just had to use it.” And it is such an enjoyable listen, too. Showcased here are Ford’s gorgeous guitar tones and sharp, playful improvisations, which never stray too far from Rush’s original version. On “Badge” (written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and recorded by Cream), Ford offers another respectful cover, his smooth vocals backed by those of Siedah Garret (the singer also appears on “Bonnie”), and his creamy guitar tone recalling that of Clapton, while retaining Ford’s own unmistakable imprint. “I’ve always loved the first Cream album, which is brilliant,” says Ford. “Recording ‘Badge’ was John Wooler’s idea. I’m glad he suggested it; the song so was nice to use as a touchstone, since I had worked with Harrison, and he had recently passed away. You can really hear his influence in there, as well as Clapton’s.” “Peace Love & Understanding” finds Ford using R&B to smooth out a more rocking version recorded previously by Elvis Costello. On this outstanding song, Ford duets with the legendary Mavis Staples (who, incidentally, began her recording career at Stax/Volt in 1969, backed by the MG’s) commenting on the difficult times as of late. Ford explains, “I have to say that I didn’t grow up listening to Elvis Costello. But this song presented a great opportunity: I don’t like what’s going on in the world right now, and “Peace Love & Understanding” expresses a beautiful sentiment. A smart blues instrumental, “Cannonball Shuffle” was written by Ford for Freddie King. The composition showcases Ford’s gutsy though refined playing, in addition to some fine soloing from Malach. Ford says, “While planning this album, Wooler and I were talking a lot about Freddie King. As a youngster, I’d never gotten next to him, but now that I’ve taken the time to get inside his style, I modeled ‘Cannonball Shuffle’ after tunes like ‘Hideaway’ and ‘The Stumble.’” The album’s second half—“Me and My Woman,” “Bonnie,” “Lifetime Thing,” “For the Love of Money,” and “Hand in Hand With the Blues”—maintains a similar vibe. It’s at once old-school and, thanks to Ford’s outstandingly fresh playing, contemporary. Ford says, “This is the music I grew up with, when things were more carefree. For me, the album is full of nostalgia. I think we could all use some of that kind of feeling today.” Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.