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VARIOUS ARTISTS Rollin' Into Memphis (Telarc) The first track roars out of the swamp with accordians blazing care of C.J.Chenier, which leads into the two most disappointing tracks on this cd ie Terrance Simien on 'It Hasn't Happened Yet' copies Hiatts vocals to a T; on any other compilation this would be allowable, whereas with the fresh approach by these artists it is very much out of place. Next up is Irma Thomas singing 'Old Habits Are Hard To Break' that is buried under a muddy backwash of studio musicians, rendering her voice impotent. Whereas the best is next up with Odetta's voice whispering out of the speakers, grabbing you with her passion, completely transforming the song 'Listening To Old Voices', which is such an apt title. The music forms a delicate wrap around this distinctive vocalist with a minimal approach surging forward to complement. Blues vocalist Kenny Neal renders 'Love Like Blood' with a form that Arthur Alexander would be proud of, with a delicate touch of guitar and violin. Kris Wiley kicks it up a gear with James Cotton chiming into the mix of guitar and piano to the country rocker 'Wrote It Down'; and another highlight is next up by one of Canada's finest ie Chris Linden who treats us to a ballad 'The River Knows Your Name', with quiet dignity and power. Tab Benoit and Raful Neal combine on 'Feels Like Rain' with controlled power and finesse. The house band (with Andrea Re on vocals) perform 'Thirty Years Of Tears' that sounds like Irma Thomas, who would have claimed it as her own during her prime. 'Real Fine Love' from the very first notes is a treat from Chris Smither, that has the boss written all over it. My feet are tapping to Cliff Eberhardt performing 'Back Of My Mind' as I write this; and this sounds somewhere between the Pogues and country slide guitars that work a real treat. Patty Larkin starts out with a slow simple solo that just misses the mark. I am putting Rollin' Into Memphis into my cd collection as the plus's out number the negatives, and I am of no doubt that Telarc will be checking the best of these performers on their own releases. Andrew Reed Click on album image to see larger album cover 
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