Bob Corritore & Friends – You Shocked Me

11-11-2022

Bob Corritore (born September 27, 1956, Chicago, Illinois) is an American blues harmonica player, producer, radio host, and owner of The Rhythm Room, a music venue in Phoenix, Arizona. When he heard Muddy Waters on the radio at the age of 12, his love for the blues was born. Shortly afterwards, his younger brother gave him his first harmonica. Bob goes to attend blues concerts and on Maxwell Street he sees the famous blues harmonica players Big Walter Horton and Big John Wrencher perform and he also comes into contact with Junior Wells. In 1981 he moves to Phoenix, Arizona where he performs with Louisiana Red, among others. In 1984 he started his blues radio show and in 1991 opened The Rhythm Room, the famous blues and roots concert club. His debut album "All-star Blues Sessions" was released in 1999. Last month "You Shocked Me", the new album by Bob Corritore & Friends, was released. This album was recorded over 12 sessions between 2018 and 2022 with an all-star band at Tempest Recording in Tempe, Arizona. The opening track 'Hiding Place' is a nice introduction. A howling jew's harp, a tinkling piano by Anthony Geraci and vocals and guitar by John Primer who also wrote this song. Alabama Mike is the exuberant vocalist in Eddie Burns' raw 'Squeeze Me Baby', with Bob Margolin's gritty guitar. Intense is the vocals of Diunna Greenleaf in Tiny Topsy's 'You Shocked Me'. The guitarists Margolin and L.A. Jones are going for it. In the soul blues 'The World's In A Bad Situation' Johnny Rawls is the lead vocalist and in the slow blues 'Somebody Stole My Love From Me' Alabama Mike is again the singer. In the uptempo 'immy Dawkins song Blinded, Jimi 'Primetime' Smith can be heard on guitar and vocals. Kid Ramos and Johnny Main are the guitarists on 'Josephine' with vocals by Sugaray Rayford. Phenomenal is also the great Jew's harp from Corritore. In Jimmy Reed's slow blues 'Blue Blue Water' Oscar Wilson is the guest vocalist with his soulful vocals and in the uptempo 'Train Fare' by Little Walter Bob Stroger takes care of the vocals. Exciting next is Francine Reed's vocals in 'Don't Need Your Permission' written by Corritore. Kid Ramos and Johnny Main go back to it guitar-wise together with the tight rhythm section and the howling jew's harp of Corritore. Willie Buck is the lead vocalist in the cool Chicago blues ballad 'That Ain't Enough'. Jimi Smith is the lead singer and guitarist in the uptempo blues rocker 'Soul Food', with backing vocals from Celia King and a rousing sax solo from Doug James. 'Back To The Crossroads' by Howlin' Wolf is a blues ballad with vocals and guitar by Bill Perry. Alabama Mike is vocal again in the jump blues 'Work To Be Done'. The vocals of Diunna Greenleaf are explosive in the shuffle 'Sunny Day Friends' with a crushing jew's harp and a hammering piano by Fred Kaplan. The closing track 'Blues For Hippies', a song by pianist Otis Spann, is a feast with the piercing vocals of Alabama Mike, the tinkling piano of Kaplan and of course the ripping jew's harp of Bob Corritore. On "You Shocked Me" it is more than an hour of enjoyment. Bob Corritore & Friends deliver a sample of Chicago blues of the highest order.Harmonica ace Bob Corritore once again puts together an all-star blues showcase of his amazing friends, the cream of today's current crop of blues artists, delivering 16 killer songs and electrifying performances ! Captured during 12 recording sessions between 2018 and 2022, these 16 hard-hitting tracks deliver pure, unvarnished blues of the highest order. Recorded at Tempest Recording in Tempe Arizona, Corritore's masterfully understated production captures the urgency of a live performance and the finishing touch to make complete, memorable songs. The glue that holds it all together is the combination of Bob's focused production work and his expressive "serve the song" harmonica style. Featured vocalists on this set include longtime collaborators Alabama Mike (who contributes four powerful songs), soul/blues/gospel icon Johnny Rawls, salt of the earth Southern bluesman Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry, SugaRay Rayford, Diunna Greenleaf, Jimi "Primetime" Smith, Oscar Wilson, Bob Stroger, Francine Reed, and Willie Buck. Corritore has gained a strong presence in today's blues market by releasing a solid output of music from his storied "Vaults" as well as current gems. Blues harp whiz Bob Corritore returns to his "& Friends" format with familiar voices, reliable good-time energy and always savvy harmonica play. Alabama Mike's scorching delivery on "Squeeze Me Baby" stands out as does Francine Reed's supercharged take on Mr. C's "I Don't Need Your Permission". Bassist Bob Stroger's "Train Fare" has the flavor of a classic track from the Excello label and Diunna Greenleaf should shock the airwaves with her work on the title track. The varied band line-ups are always solid.

1. Hiding Place (feat. John Primer) 4:19

2. Squeeze Me Baby (feat. Alabama Mike) 4:10

3. You Shocked Me (feat. Diunna Greenleaf) 3:45

4. The World's In A Bad Situation (feat. Johnny Rawls) 3:23

5. Somebody Stole My Love From Me (feat. Alabama Mike) 5:55

6. Blinded (feat. Jimi "Primetime" Smith) 3:29

7. Josephine (feat. Sugaray Rayford) 4:40

8. Blue Blue Water (feat. Oscar Wilson) 3:18

9. Train Fare (feat. Bob Stroger) 3:58

10. Don't Need Your Permission (feat. Francine Reed) 2:59

11. That Ain't Enough (feat. Willie Buck) 4:28

12. Soul Food (feat. Jimi "Primetime" Smith) 3:49