REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Day: October 13, 2021

KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Lay It On Down

This is the 7th release from Kenny and it was put out in 2017. The one thing I have noticed more and more as Kenny has progressed, is how much country has crept into his sound. I first became aware of him when he opened up for Van Halen. Blues players were all the rage after the initial breakthrough of SRV. This is also a very clean and polished record, no rough edges – a very un-blues album you may think, but the songs are really good and the production is first class.

I like Kenny the best when he is doing that down South blues funk groove, like on Diamonds & Gold, as I think his style of playing and his voice suits that type of tune. When Noah Hunt sings, like on Nothin But The Night, that is where the country creeps into the sound, mixed with that funky under groove. Kenny still has the chops that made everyone take notice, it’s just they are almost hidden away on this album. It’s interesting that this album is categorized as blues, and I wonder if that frustrates him a bit, as this is obviously aimed at the country market. My favourite track is the last one, Ride For Your Life, as it’s the one track that does feel as though Kenny still has the blues – even though Noah’s voice tries to drag the song to country town.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SHAKIN’ STREET – s/t

Unless you are French or were paying attention in Britain around the NWOBHM era, I’m guessing you may not have heard of this band ,or more importantly, their singer Fabienne Shine. She is an amazing person and has had a very adventurous life, but I will concentrate on the music. She started writing songs quite early, and decided to tour the world with her guitar in case of inspiration. While doing this, she met and befriended Led Zeppelin who liked her songs and she became romantically involved with Jimmy Page. Page and Plant encouraged her to form a band, which she did on her return to France.

This is the second album and is of note because ex-Dictators and Manowar guitarist, Ross The Boss, is lead guitarist on this record. At its simplest, it’s very punk pop, like on the tracks No Time To Loose and Susie Wong, but it’s when the the groove hits harder that I like this album the most. No Compromise, Soul Dealer, Every Man, Every Woman Is A Star, and the best track on the album, I Want To Box You with that killer riff are the stand out tracks for me. I have a soft spot for this album because of Box You. She released a biography called Sexe, Drogues & Rock n Roll in 2014. Track it down if you can find it, she is some lady.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.