"STIRRIN' UP BEES" may very well be the farthest I've ever strayed from the blues. My regular readers pretty much know that if it's not straight up blues, or at least something pretty close, I'm not even listening to it let alone writing about it. Yet something about this disc - which features songs sounding more like 60's or 70's R&B, Soul and Funk rather than blues - caught my fancy. I guess it's just a combination of the good writing, good vocals and good musicianship.
"STIRRIN' UP BEES" features fourteen tracks of which thirteen are ROBERT PECKMAN originals. Joining ROBERT on lead vocals, background vocals, bass and percussion are: BRANDON BARNES on drums; JIMMY BRITON on keyboards, vibes and background vocals; STEVE DALACH on guitar; DAN DONOHOE on trumpet; ROBBIE KLEIN on saxophones; JOHNNY DAYE and BO WAGNER on lead and background vocals; PETE HEWLETT on background vocals.
If you're a dancer, you'd be heading to the dance floor three seconds into the opening track, "PUT IT IN THE POCKET". I'm not, but it even had me feeling like stepping up from the keypad and bouncing around my office. Everyone's at their peak on this track - what a way to open. This is fierce funk at it's finest.
Telling a joke that isn't funny, robbing a bank and getting no money, and "STIRRING UP BEES".....and not getting any honey.....are all comparisons as to what's happening to ROBERT as he makes his move on a woman. At least the song sounds a lot better than ROBERT'S doings. Great vocals and horns on this one.
"A MAN MUST STAND FOR SOMETHING"......or he will fall for anything, is another sample of some of the very well written lyrics on this disc. The vocals - lead, background and harmony - highlight one of this discs highlights.
Once again, along with the horns getting very funky, the vocals and harmonizing rise to the top on this very "top ten type" Motown sounding track titled "STOP AND TAKE A LOOK". This one's for singing along with.
"LETS TALK IT OVER" features STAX recording artist JOHNNY DAYE, who prior to this recording had not been in a studio since 1968. Amazing, after nearly a forty year layoff he sounds like what most singers today wish they could sound like. After hearing what I just heard, I'm thinking - and certainly hoping, that a comeback could be a strong possibility. Great rhythm and guitar on this one, which the slow dancers will absolutely love.
"DON'T BE A REAPER" will definitely get you movin' & shoutin'. More great lyrics and harmony are featured on this wonderful Gospel track. Great drum and piano work by BRANDON and JIMMY add to another one of this discs highlights.
Other tracks included on "STIRRIN' UP BEES" are: "BAMBOOZLED", "PLEASE COME HOME" "I WANNA GO DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS", "BETTY CAN GET MAD", "SLEEPIN' ON THE JOB", "JUST A FEW WORDS", "HEY JOHN R" and "STRUGGLIN".
Although my name is the Blewzzman and NOT the Rhythm & Blewzzman, I'll have to admit that this little stroll outside the blues genre was a most enjoyable listening pleasure. ROBERT PECKMAN will never convert me however, he did impress me.
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