Time: 43:18
Size: 99.1 MB
Styles: West Coast blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front
[4:34] 1. You're Wrong For That !
[4:35] 2. I Love You That Way
[3:39] 3. Rock On
[4:35] 4. Stressful Situation
[2:25] 5. Haywire
[3:25] 6. Trying To Get To You
[4:14] 7. Please Come Home
[3:09] 8. Your Time Is Gonna Come
[5:36] 9. I'm Gonna Miss You
[7:02] 10. Who Is He And What Is He To You
The blues has changed immensely over the last few decades. Henry Oden has been a key participant in many stages of the music’s evolution. Having learned his musical craft from the elders, he is now passing it on to the youngsters. He has scuffled in innumerable small clubs in the Bay Area, toured internationally with blues, rock, jazz and soul stars, and has a keen angle on the current blues revival. That current blues revival is most welcome, of course, but along with the good sometimes comes the not-quite-so-good. The present proliferation and popularity of blues acts can lead to an inevitable dilution of quality. How many times have we heard the “two dispensable verses - long (very long and very loud!) guitar solo – dispensable verse – solo-to-fade” numbers? Not from Henry though. He is equally renowned as a thoughtful song writer – I’ve never asked Henry what he picked up playing behind blues all-time great Percy Mayfield, but you can lay money that he was listening carefully. Henry’s songs tell stories based on true events, situations and characters, and draw on his vast experience – and they stay long in the memory.
‘You’re Wrong for That’ is the perfect musical snapshot! This is Henry’s third solo release there are examples of the traditional – try the glorious title track –and the contemporary blues (listen to the lyrics of ‘Trying To Get To You!’), as befits one who is a living link between the blues of those newly arrived from back east in the forties and the hip modern approach of today. The kind of thing that propelled Joe Louis Walker to the forefront of the blues scene. Oh, and Henry was bass player and song writer for Joe too, for many years. ‘Haywire’ also reminds us that in the phrase ‘blues guitar instrumental’, each word carries equal weight – all too often forgotten in these days of flash and empty posturing, but a lesson Henry may have learned directly from another former employer Freddy King, master blues guitarist. Deep roots then – and here you’ll find traces of Jimmy McCracklin, Bay Area blues icon, the first to put Henry on record, and whose guitarist Mr. Robert Kelton was Henry’s first musical tutor. Or maybe I should say “Hammerin’ Hank’s”, the name recalling the funk player who worked with Freddie Stone (brother of Sly) back in San Francisco’s rock and soul heyday. A time for experiment and taking risks, a quality Henry still possesses – witness his down-tempo rendition of ‘Rock On’, early seventies hit for British singer/ actor David Essex.
“I was extremely fortunate to have Lady Bianca and Ron Thompson coming through and helping me in this effort.” Lady Bianca also adds notable vocals to ‘I’m Gonna Miss You’, Henry showing another, previously unknown side to his talent (well, unknown to me) as he becomes a credible southern soul singer.
It is worth noting too that, sadly, this release contains what may be the last recordings of the late, great blues and rock harmonica player Norton Buffalo. Like Henry, Norton was also from Richmond, California. The closing number, the Bill Withers – yes, another employer – song ‘Who Is He and What Is He to You’ was recorded live at the Boom Boom Room. The venue itself is revealing: “the site of the oldest blues club west of the Mississippi”, this San Francisco venue parallels Henry’s position as both a local blues resource and an internationally recognised name; and on the subject of names, ‘Boom Boom’ serves to remind us of Henry’s stint as bass guitarist for the legendary John Lee Hooker. The track itself presents Henry, the funk-master!
So there you have it – Henry Oden, musician, songwriter, performer, blues expert and all-round good guy. Henry, you’re right for that! ~Norman Darwen
‘You’re Wrong for That’ is the perfect musical snapshot! This is Henry’s third solo release there are examples of the traditional – try the glorious title track –and the contemporary blues (listen to the lyrics of ‘Trying To Get To You!’), as befits one who is a living link between the blues of those newly arrived from back east in the forties and the hip modern approach of today. The kind of thing that propelled Joe Louis Walker to the forefront of the blues scene. Oh, and Henry was bass player and song writer for Joe too, for many years. ‘Haywire’ also reminds us that in the phrase ‘blues guitar instrumental’, each word carries equal weight – all too often forgotten in these days of flash and empty posturing, but a lesson Henry may have learned directly from another former employer Freddy King, master blues guitarist. Deep roots then – and here you’ll find traces of Jimmy McCracklin, Bay Area blues icon, the first to put Henry on record, and whose guitarist Mr. Robert Kelton was Henry’s first musical tutor. Or maybe I should say “Hammerin’ Hank’s”, the name recalling the funk player who worked with Freddie Stone (brother of Sly) back in San Francisco’s rock and soul heyday. A time for experiment and taking risks, a quality Henry still possesses – witness his down-tempo rendition of ‘Rock On’, early seventies hit for British singer/ actor David Essex.
“I was extremely fortunate to have Lady Bianca and Ron Thompson coming through and helping me in this effort.” Lady Bianca also adds notable vocals to ‘I’m Gonna Miss You’, Henry showing another, previously unknown side to his talent (well, unknown to me) as he becomes a credible southern soul singer.
It is worth noting too that, sadly, this release contains what may be the last recordings of the late, great blues and rock harmonica player Norton Buffalo. Like Henry, Norton was also from Richmond, California. The closing number, the Bill Withers – yes, another employer – song ‘Who Is He and What Is He to You’ was recorded live at the Boom Boom Room. The venue itself is revealing: “the site of the oldest blues club west of the Mississippi”, this San Francisco venue parallels Henry’s position as both a local blues resource and an internationally recognised name; and on the subject of names, ‘Boom Boom’ serves to remind us of Henry’s stint as bass guitarist for the legendary John Lee Hooker. The track itself presents Henry, the funk-master!
So there you have it – Henry Oden, musician, songwriter, performer, blues expert and all-round good guy. Henry, you’re right for that! ~Norman Darwen
You're Wrong For That! mc
You're Wrong For That! zippy