Sugar Ray And The Bluetones – Hands Across The Table (Severn Records).

The eponymous opening track is a stormer and would be a great way to start a gig. This brand of R&B venturing into soft rock is loved worldwide and the warbling harmonica of Sugar Ray Norcia sets it off to a tee. They throw in a Kansas City style blues on I Done Got Wine and Sugar Ray’s voice is particularly suited to this style as he slips into his harmonica breaks seamlessly. This isn’t flash music, it’s just good music. A further style change takes us to Chicago and Dark Roads Calling. Paul Size shows a deft hand on guitar during this smouldering blues. Livin’ A Lie is a jaunty, upbeat blues that has Ray blowing his harp like a good ’un and Cloud Cover is an instrumental that allows him to really strut his stuff. In another change of style the band switch to Rock n Roll, Dave Edmunds style, with high octane performances from all. However, special mention is merited for Michael Mudcat Ward on acoustic bass who certainly makes himself heard.

The Rock n Roll theme continues with the slower That’s My Desire which sounds much the same as One Night. This is brightened up by Size’s twangy guitar. (I’m Gonna Break Into) Folsom Prison is slightly disjointed but the base is there for a great song. The band returns to high paced R&B for I Want To Marry You Girl and they go through their paces with ease. The real highlight of the album is I Won’t Leave Home No More, a classic Chicago blues with Size excelling. Ray shows his versatility on River Stay ‘Way From My Door which is a harmonica led smooth, jazzy night club song. I hope that The Last Blues Song is not prophetic as I need something to write about in the coming years! Seriously, this bar-room blues would grace many an album, even those produced by better known artists. Ray and the band finish with the peaceful, slow and short harmonica blues of End Time. Time for bed, nighty-night.

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Copyright David Blue 2006.