CD’s. Vinyl & dowloads
Paul Thorn Don’t Let the Devil Ride Perpetual Obscurity)
It was bound to hap-
pen. The writing was on the wall. Paul Thorn was raised by a tent revival minis- ter, and as long as he has been performing he has incorporated gospel music into his
show so it should come as no surprise that he has at long last recorded an entire album of good ol’ gospel music. Some of the tunes are familiar while others are derived from more obscure sources. Taken as a whole, the album has all the spirit of a Holy Ghost tent revival. Thorn pulls out all the stops on this
one, with guest musicians that include The Preservation Hall Horns, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the McCrary Sisters and frequent tour opener, the soulful Bonnie Bishop. Add to that the studios in which the record was made. That’s right, I said “studios,” as in more than one. Three actually. Sam Phillips Recording, Memphis; Fame Studio, Muscle Shoals; and Preservation Hall in New Or- leans. I’ll give you a minute to let that sink in. Paul delivers 14 songs filled with heart,
soul and faith, and every one is a winner. One of many outstanding tracks is “He’ll Make a Way (The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow),” beginning with a bit of preaching from Thorn and joined by the Blind Boys of Alabama. The title track, “Don’t Let the Devil Ride” is an- other excellent song, set to a slow jam beat and filled with excellent ad lib backing vocals from the McCrary Sisters.
“Come On Let’s Go to the House of the
Lord,” which opens the album, is a roof-rais- ing gospel rocker. It gave me the same urge to dance and play the tambourine that Thorns “Mission Temple Fire Works Stand” did years ago. I love it. Speaking of loving it, Thorn’s lead guitarist Bill Hinds outdoes himself on slide on the song “Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed (In My Time of Dying).” it’s just guitar and Paul’s vocal. Kind of reminiscent of the old blues men like Charley Patton and Son House. I was thrilled to see Paul cover “Love
Train,” the seventies hit by the O’Jays, a song I myself have played in solo shows for many years. Thorn and company slow the tempo and it is just perfect. It deserves to be a radio hit again with Thorn’s version. Paul Thorn has yet to record an album I
don’t like - love is a better word. Don’t Let the Devil Ride now ranks among my top favorite recordings to come from the Tupelo, Missis- sippi born former championship boxer. Praise the Lord, and play it again! Turn it up this time!
-Michael Buffalo Smith
A Pair of Knees Randy Howard (Grand Old Man Music)
A Pair of Knees is
the final album from singer/songwriter Randy Howard. Randy has been a favorite country per- former throughout the south for many years, and this was the final
album of several he recorded at Muscadine
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