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GRADY CHAMPION Payin' For My Sins (Shanachie) Grady is a singer/harp player who has been compared to the great Sonny Boy Williamson. Payin' For My Sins opens with 'I'm Smilin' Again' and straight away Grady's voice reminds me of Johnny Copeland. 'You've Got Some Explaining To Do' has a great funky groove. 'Good As New' is pure soul. Continuing in the soul vain is the classic 'Some Kind Of Wonderful' that both The Drifter's and Marvin Gaye had a hit with. Grady blends 'Some Kind...' with 'Can I Get A Witness'. Raising the tempo is 'My Rooster Is King' that really cooks! Next up is an absolute blues classic 'Goin' Down Slow' and this features some excellent links from lead-guitarist Alan Miriktani. The title track is a Champion original and this song exudes a real Memphis soul sound. Another Grady original is 'Troubled Mind' that has exceptional depth and wicked slide guitar! 'Let Me Be' would be at home in a St. Louis pool hall. 'Roberta' is strongly melodic and is reminiscent of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee. Sonny Boy's classic 'Don't Start Me Talkin'' revives memories of it's composer. 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City' is a song I love best by Bobby 'Blue' Bland, yet Grady's rendition moves me to tears. This man knows how to balance his selection, and rounding off Payin' For My Sins is 'Dreamin' that John Fogerty should record! Richard Cousins is the bass player on Payin' For My Sins and you may remember him on the early Robert Cray albums; and Cray's producer Dennis Walker is behind this fine effort also. You can email Grady c/- musicbin@aol.com Gazz Click on album image to see larger album cover 
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