Boston roots rock guitarist Michael Dinallo recently helmed a special recording project in Memphis for the Memphis International Records label. He produced a collection of Charlie Rich’s songs that were originally recorded by legendary producer Sam Phillips at Memphis’s Sam Phillips Recording studio. Dinallo helms a band in this recording featuring himself on electric and acoustic guitars, Tim Carroll on electric guitar, and greater-Boston rhythm section of Preston Rumbaugh on bass with Tom Hambridge on drums. The CD, Feel Like Going Home: The Songs Of Charlie Rich, also includes roots, blues, and country singers from around the country, making this album feel like a true national reflection on this old time singer-songwriter piano player. While many know of Rich from his 1970s AM radio hits, he was one of the pioneers at the time rock, blues, country, and rockabilly were often recorded by the same artists at the same studio.
Jim Lauderdale opens this lively disc with the stomping rockabilly number “Lonely Weekends.” Lauderdale’s ruggedly handsome vocal finds the perfect home among a rambunctious rockabilly band. His husky croon barks over a pair of jumpy electric guitar lines and an assertive rhythm section that drives it home with eruptive energy.
The Malpass Brothers take us through the mid tempo joy ride “Caught In The Middle,” a tune that starts out old fashioned and sweet and gets even purtier as a twangy lead vocal cruises alongside chirpy lead guitar and snappy rhythm.
For more of a local Boston flavor, “Whirlwind” features Dinallo’s wife and musical partner Juliet Simmons Dinallo strutting her stuff on lead vocals. Simmons-Dinallo’s rootsie, rangy croon is at full strength here as she milks this rockabilly tune for all of the swing its worth. Tasty guitar licks and country friend bass and drum work complete the scene of a stormy relationship that Simmons Dinallo makes her own with her inimitable musical force of personality.
Will Kimbrough’s vocal take on “Sittin’ And Thinkin’” perfectly captures that barroom loneliness, when a man’s drink may feel like his only friend in the world. His voice is sadly forlorn, and he delivers it with understated roots beauty. It is also the country flavored electric and acoustic guitars that give this song an edge. Electric guitar spikes make the instrument sound like it’s whistling the message home while an acoustic adds a roots flavor to the rhythm section.
Susan Marshall’s rangy vocal on “Time And Again” rings as purely and truly as a gentle electric guitar moans beneath her emotive, empowered vocal. She takes this song to heavenly highs each time she sustains one of her country flavored vocal notes.
Charlie Rich Jr. takes things into an oldies rock and roll territory with his assertive piano playing on “Break Up.” His smooth, pinched vocal timbre delivers the rock and roll coolness while his piano and the rest of the band rock right out.
Holli Mosley adds a touch of gospel and soul to “Who Will The Next Fool Be” with her rich, spiritual vocal. The backing vocals here feel like an old time choir, like when a southern preacher is dunking someone into the river. Piano tinkling bring it home with a tuft of spiritual ebullience as does a weepy lead guitar phrase.
The second generation legend Shooter Jennings has fun with “Rebound,” a springy, bouncy oldies style rocker, complete with crunchy guitar chords, joyful Wurlitzer chords, and plenty of drum fills swinging each part of this song along.
Boston’s Anita Suhanin applies her sultry vocal to “Midnight Blues” with fine success. She infuses her blues with raw power and true emotional longing. Perky electric guitar keep this one alight while drummer Tom Hambridge knocks it along with his tasteful fills.
Current Memphis stalwart Preston Shannon, a staple at B. B. King’s place on Beale Street, offers seriously good blues vocals and guitar on “Easy Money.” Shannon drawls out each syllable beautifully here, his voice rich with character and feeling. Shannon’s guitar is also fully intact, putting his signature sound on this track.
Cape Cod’s inimitable blues crooner and harmonica player Johnny Hoy offers up his talents on the very bluesy “Don’t Put No Headstone On My Grave.” Hoy asserts his deep, rich vocal timbre over percolating keyboard notes that are to die for. It’s uncanny how well Hoy’s particular voice travels over bluesy keys and how well his harmonica line slides all over the groove without losing the meter.
“Everything I Do Is Wrong” comes to life on the strength of brittle but simmering electric guitars and slap happy piano notes. Vocalist Keith Sykes with backing vocals from Grace Askew bring it home with fun, snappy verses and an old fashioned but hooky chorus. This one might also make you feel like two stepping or dancing a jig with its ever so infectious 1950s style beat.
Boston’s own Kevin Connolly helps fine tune the album by turning close out track “Feel Like Going Home” into a lilting melody, tender ballad that carries itself in bittersweet fashion along a lonely rail. The listener can feel the train carrying him away as the lead vocal speaks of world weariness and a guitar gently, tenderly gives his voice a forlorn sidewalk to walk down as he moves away from everything that ever went wrong.
Michael Dinallo should be commended for assembling the wide variety of talent found on this Charlie Rich tribute. He also got a fine sound out the tracks that he produced. For greater-Boston/New England fans of Rich, roots music, rockabilly, country and oldies rock and roll, Dinallo also includes numerous familiar names on vocals and on instruments, Ducky Carlisle, Amber Casares, Jeremy Berlin, and Jim Gambino. Fans of Charlie Rich, roots, and these greater-Boston/New England stalwarts should add this disc to their collection.
