CD Reviews for 10/14/08 – Eddie Floyd, Irma Thomas
Compact Capsules by Dan Ferguson
Eddie Floyd
Eddie Loves You So
Stax STXCD-30795
On his first Stax release since 1974, veteran soulman Eddie Floyd of 1967 smash “Knock On Wood” fame doesn’t as much serenade the listener as stroke them. Eddie Loves You So is an engaging collection of after-hours R&B that oozes soul like only a veteran of Floyd’s caliber can. It features 10 original songs several of which date back to his late ‘50s period with vocal group The Falcons. Ask me and Floyd’s voice has lost nothing. Add in completely complimentary accompaniment from a band that includes Boston guitar ace Michael Dinallo (who also co-produced the record with fellow Beantowner Ducky Carlisle) and you have an album worthy of the finger-snapping Stax logo. (Visit www.eddiefloyd.com) – Dan Ferguson
Irma Thomas
Simply Grand
Rounder 11661-2202
What do you get when you join the undisputed soul queen of New Orleans with a dozen contemporary masters of the ivories? Why an unquestionably good record. The soul queen is Irma Thomas and the winning Simply Grand showcases her still stylistic and soulful pipes in all their glory along side piano luminaries with surnames like Rebennack, Marsalis, Butler, Newman, Ball, Medeski, Cleary, and Torkanowsky. (Visit www.irmathomas.com.)
(Dan Ferguson is a free-lance music writer and host of The Boudin Barndance, broadcast Thursday nights from 6 – 9 pm on WRIU-FM 90.3. He lives in Peace Dale and can be reached at [email protected].)
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