Writing the liner notes for this disc, BOB PORTER claims that "Albert's own singing and playing are the equal of many performers who are better known at this stage.  This is his time and "THESE ARE THE DAYS" is the album that will move him to the next level".  I could not agree more with BOB.  As a matter of fact, that quote, coming from me, may have referred to ALBERT as being better than many of those better know performers and if this disc doesn't propel him into the mainstream of the blues community it will be an outright shame. 

 

    Since his earlier years touring as JUNIOR WELLS' and SANDRA HALL'S guitarist, "THESE ARE THE DAYS" is ALBERT CASTIGLIA'S third release as a bandleader.  Backing him, on guitar and vocals, are his regular South Florida band members: STEVE GASKELL on bass, SUSAN LUSHER on keyboards and BOB AMSEL on drums.  Special guests include: KEN "STRINGBEAN" SORENSON on harmonica, RIO CLEMENTE on Organ, and "SWEET" SUZI SMITH and NICOLE HART on background vocals.

 

    

    "THESE ARE THE DAYS" opens with a very clever original - "BAD YEAR BLUES".  Sadly, the song could be true - not just for ALBERT - but the rest of us as well.  Since it all hit the fan in January, ALBERT claims that "It's been a real bad year, only twelve more months to go".  And as he tells of his mounting shortcomings, it certainly sounds as if it is going to be a real bad year.  The track is performed as well as it was written.  With the rhythm guys in a zone,  SUSAN beatin' up the piano and ALBERT vocally making the lyrics sound too real, this is one of the discs best.

 

    With the rest of the band very 'lively' behind him, "HE'S GOT ALL THE WHISKEY" is a forum for ALBERT'S stunning guitar abilities.  Throughout this one his rhythm and lead guitar riffs are routinely amazing. 

 

    ALBERT sings his heart out on a slow blues ballad titled "LOAN ME A DIME".  This is my kinda stuff - serious, low down blues with some serious low down blues guitar playing.  With the band in a mellow groove behind him, this one is all about ALBERT and his emotions - vocally and musically.  Another of the discs best.

 

    "GODFATHER OF THE BLUES", a song which ALBERT wrote about his former boss - MR. JUNIOR WELLS, is a toe tappin', knee slappin' rocker.  If this one don't get you shakin' then you gotta be achin'.  Of course, a song about JUNIOR wouldn't do him justice without a harp, and on this one KEN "STRINGBEAN" SORENSON certainly does JUNIOR - and the harp - justice.  More good stuff here.

 

    If this disc was an LP, with the amount of times I replayed "NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME", my needle would have worn through the wax by now.  This version of this song is absolutely phenomenal.  With BOB and STEVE setting just the right pace, ALBERT is at discs best on guitar and SUSAN may very well be at career best on the piano.  On top of that, "SWEET" SUZY and NICOLE HART are as fabulous as the 'Rayette's' ever were.  I can't begin to say enough about this track.

 

    Although this is certainly not a complaint, it is however this writer's opinion that "NEED YOUR LOVE SO BAD" is one of the kind of songs that ALBERT just doesn't do enough of.  He's got such a perfect voice for these slow ballads and his slow, burning guitar notes are some of the best - as this track will reveal.  Nice steady background organ by RIO help highlight this one.

 

    If you want to do yourself a favor - and I mean a really big favor - take yourself over to www.albertcastiglia.com and get yourself a copy of "THESE ARE THE DAYS".  I promise you you'll agree with BOB PORTER and the BLEWZZMAN.  And don't forget to tell ALBERT KA-STEEL-YA that his buddy PETE sent ya.