D.L. Duncan
15 South Records

Nashville’s Dave Duncan, simply known as DL Duncan on this self-titled, self-produced recording, has been a songwriter of well-respected merit for a number of years. With a sound that fits nicely within that musical niche surrounded roots, America, and the blues, he has written highly acclaimed songs for country artists like Lorrie Morgan and Buddy Jewell and has worked with the Goose Creek Symphony, Jimmy Nalls, and Stan Street. He has also had a lengthy song-writing collaboration with Curtis Salgado and has reaped two Blues Music Award nominations for song of the year with “20 Years of BB King” and “She Didn’t Cut Me Loose.”

The strength of Duncan’s songwriting clearly shines through on this recording, with eight of the tracks written or co-penned by him. He reunites with Salgado on one, “I Know A Good Thing” and Mark Robinson co-wrote the fiery guitar number “Dickerson Road.” There is plenty of humor to be found in the opening tune, “I Ain’t The Sharpest Marble.” The clever title alone should tell you that fact, but it’s full of funny insights such as “If you want a man with ambition, you might as well count me out.” And he can fill you with his down-felt sorrow with mournful slide guitar on “St. Valentine’s Day Blues,” relating how alone he gets to feeling each February.

Throughout the album the instrumentation is high caliber. It doesn’t hurt when your supporting cast includes heavy hitters like Delbert McClinton on harmonica, Sonny Landreth on slide guitar, Muscle Shoals’ house bassist David Hood, keyboard dynamo Kevin McKendree and Nashville’s premier vocalists The McCrary Sisters. And amongst all that, Duncan superbly plays a variety of both electric and acoustic guitars.

The album closes with a beautiful take on Craig Wiseman’s “All I Have To Offer You Is Love,” one of only two covers on the disc. His vocals are soft and touching with exceptional accompaniment by David Pinkston on pedal steel guitar. It is the perfect nightcap to an album filled with fantastic, memorable songs and perfect presentation. Start to end, this is one fine collection of music.

Total Time: 41:05

I Ain’t The Sharpest Marble / Dickerson Road / You Just Don’t Never Know / Your Own Best Friend / I Know A Good Thing / Sending Me Angels / Orange Beach Blues / St. Valentine’s Day Blues / Sweet Magnolia Love / All I Have To Offer You Is Love

I Ain’t Lyin’
Henrietta Records

Charlie Musselwhite has released another live recording following in the footsteps of his 2012 album Juke Joint Chapel, which brought him a Grammy nomination. Recorded at two festivals, Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival in Sonoma, California and the Clarksdale Soundstage in Mississippi, I Ain’t Lyin’ is another strong outing that finds Musselwhite and his band in prime performance shape.

The band here is almost the same as on his 2012 release, with June Core helming the skins and Matthew Stubbs on guitar. The newest part of this band is bass player Steve Froberg. This is a splendid mix where none of the parts overshadow anybody else. Musselwhite remains forefront with his harmonica and voice, but each of the players are key cogs to this unit and it shows.

Musselwhite wrote all but two of the selections and many are prime numbers that have been favorites of his followers for many years. The cover tracks are Elmore James’ “Done Somebody Wrong” and Duke Pearson’s “Cristo Redentor.” The latter is just about a standard for Musselwhite and has appeared on several of his releases over the years going all the way back to his break-out release Stand Back! It’d be hard to imagine a Charlie Musselwhite appearance without this song being played. And once again he proves its worth.

Of the originals, you will definitely find many of his best and most loved titles from his fifty-plus-year career. They include greats like “If I Should Have Bad Luck,” “Long Lean Lanky Mama” and “Blues, Why Do You Bother Me?”

Charlie Musselwhite has proven over time that he is one of the all-time premier voices behind a blues harmonica. No need to compare him with the Sonny Boys or Walters (Big and Little) as he has carved his own niche with his blues hall of fame and his influence on future players will just as long lasting. One thing he’ll bring to the table in live presentations is everything that is good in the blues today and as he’d tell you himself from the stage, “I Ain’t Lyin’!”

Total Time: 57:43

Good Blues Tonight / Done Somebody Wrong / Long Lean Lanky Mama / Always Been Your Friend / If I Should Have Bad Luck / My Kinda Gal / Blues, Why Do You Worry Me? / 300 Miles To Go / Long Leg Woman / Cristo Redentor / Good Blues Tonight (unedited)