Washington, DC based Blues& Roots band, The Nighthawks: Mark Wenner, Paul Bell, Johnny Castle, and Mark Stutso, have a new release out entitled, All You Gotta Do, on the EllerSoul Records label. As a fan of Blues harmonica, I really appreciated this stellar 12-track release. A combination of new songs written by the band, as well as some old-time favorites, give The Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do, the right mix of play for an enjoyable listen.
The Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do
The Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do: That's All You Gotta Do, When I Go Away, Baby, I Want To Be
Loved, Lets Burn Down The Cornfield, Another Day, VooDoo Doll, Ninety Nine,
Three Times Your Fool, Isn't That So, Snake Drive, Blues For Brother John,
Dirty Water
Personnel: Mark Wenner - harmonica, vocals; Paul Bell - guitar, vocals; Johnny
Castle - bass, vocals; Mark Stutso - drums, vocals
The Nighthawks produced, All You Gotta Do, on the EllerSoul
Records label, along with Executive Producer
H. Watkins Ellerson.
For those who are new to The Nighthawks, Mark
Wenner founded the band in Washington, DC back in 1974, and although the other
original members have moved on, Mark Stutso came on board in 2010, and veteran
musicians Paul Bell and Johnny Castle joined to round it out, the music remains
true to the core. Mark Wenner is a master of Blues harmonica, Mark Stutso keeps
the beat as the drummer, Paul Bell is the guitarist with super-charged riffs,
and Johnny Castle lays on the bass. As they write on the album cover,
"everybody sings."
The band opens the release by taking the
listener down musical memory lane with the rocking and rollicking track, That's All You Gotta Do. Written by
Jerry Reed, Brenda Lee recorded it in 1960, and it hit the number 6 spot on
Billboard Hot 100, which the band deftly covers and makes their own.
Next in the play list is the heartfelt Larry
Campbell song, When I Go Away, which
he had written for The Dixie Hummingbirds. The song is about death and moving along,
with inspired lyrics "...Don't want no sorrow ... I don't want no crying, only
tears of joy ...And I'll be bound for glory, In the morning when I go away..."
The band segues into another 1950s song, Baby I Want To Be Loved, written by
Willie Dixon back in 1955. Bring on the Funk for this one, which had me
cakewalking as I gave it a listen. Let's
Burn Down The Cornfield written by Randy Newman in 1970 with its harmonica
up front, band harmonies, and tight guitar riffs, gives this track staying
power.
Band member and bass player Johnny Castle shows
his talent as a songwriter with his original upbeat, punchy, Another Day, about politics, the states of affairs, and Big
Brother watching, followed by another band original, VooDoo Doll written by
Mark Stutso.
The band continues their tour through the past
with the fabulous 1957 Sonny Boy Williamson song, Ninety Nine. Time to take it slow, the band downshifts into the
ballad, Three Times Your Fool written
by Norman Nardini and Mark Stutso, so cozy up with your loved one or grab them
and slow dance to this one.
Next, is the 1977 Jesse Winchester song, Isn't That So, followed by the mostly
instrumental Snake Drive, written by
R.L. (Robert Lee) Burnside (1926- 2005) and Kenny Brown, which showcases the
band's musical prowess.
Coming into the home stretch, with track number
11, is Mark Wenner's, Blues For Brother
John, which slides into the groove with a slow Blues number. Closing out
the release, the band slides into the 1966 song, Dirty Water, written by Ed Cobb and released by The Standells, and
let's face it, who does not love the song, Dirty Water? It is a perfect close
to a release that is well worth sitting up, paying attention, and giving it
multiple listens.
Until next time, keep enjoying the music!
For information
on The
Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do as well as information on upcoming tour
dates, please visit the website: www.thenighthawks.com
Listen to a teaser of The Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do: www.thenighthawks.com/Music
Websites where
you can procure The Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do: Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, Blues
Music Store, and cdUniverse.
Follow The Nighthawks on Facebook: www.facebook.com/The-Nighthawks
Follow EllerSoul Records on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EllerSoul-Records
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