Bill Perry – Raw Deal
By Randy Hoffman
Blues Blowtorch Society

9/6/04

Bill Perry – Raw Deal – BPCD 5093

 

Raw Deal is an apt name for Bill Perry’s latest release.  It has a lot of raw blues; lyrically, vocally and musically.  Not a lot of finesse on this CD, just raw, in your face, blues.  Not surprising when you find that Popa Chubby recorded, mixed, and produced the CD.  He even played on several of the tunes and wrote ‘Paper Dragons’.

Bill penned most of the tunes and they explicitly define the gritty life of a working bluesman.  Traveling in a ‘Big Ass Green Van’ kinda sums up the feel of this CD.  Too many miles and not enough sleep. 

My favorite cut on the CD is ‘Going Down To Memphis’.  There’s something that appeals to me about ‘going down’ and ‘driving up from New Orleans’.  Is going to Memphis is always ‘going down’?!  I think so.

The band behind Bill is solid, with John Redden on rhythm guitar, Tim Tindall on bass and Rob Curtis on drums.  The addition of Dave Keyes on Hammond organ for half the tunes really fills out the mix.

I had the good fortune to see him perform at the 2003 Illinois Blues Festival and his live performance was sensational.  I’ve always found something interesting in Bill’s work and this CD is no exception.  Buying it won’t be a ‘Raw Deal’

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