Franco Paletta and The Stingers
"Can't Kick Love"
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © July 2011

Using the system, made so popular by sports, that assigns a percentage number to a player or a team based on their performance, the Pacific Northwest is still at .1000. That's the equivalence of a baseball player having 50 hits in 50 at bats, a team having won 25 games and lost none or a racehorse that's won all it's races. It's a number that replaces the word perfection. And right now, in my eyes - and my ears as well - bands from the Pacific Northwest have a perfect record. What that means is that over the past several years, of all the CD's submitted from that area, not one has ever seen the cutting room floor. Whatever it is that's working for them up that way should be packaged and sold.....for a very high price.

The latest is an all original disc titled "Can't Kick Love" and it's from an Oregon based band called Franco Paletta and The Stingers. The members are: Franco Paletta on vocals and harp; Dave Ward on electric, acoustic and baritone guitars; John Beyer on drums and percussion; Timmer Blakely on bass; Steve Kerin on piano and organ; and John Soller on the Hammond B3 organ on "Baby Won't Let Me Ride".

The disc opens with pizzazz on a track titled "I Can't Stand It". It's an all out jam on which The Stingers are swingers and slingers. Rapid rhythm, pounding piano, hot harp and ferocious vocals are all going to make this a hard song to follow.

OK, so it wasn't all that hard to follow. The guys are right back at it on this body shaking shuffle called "Love Me One More Time". Drummer John B has the groove all set while Dave, Steve and Franco exchange fantastic guitar, piano and harp leads. As several replays will attest, I loved this one a lot more than one more time. Possibly disc's best right here.

The guys nailed the Latin sound on a beautifully done piece called "Pretty Senorita". With precision rhythm and percussion going on behind them, Dave is magnificent on the acoustic guitar, and with his polished tone - on the harp, and vocals as well, listening to Franco is double the pleasure. Saying it once just isn't enough, this one was beautifully done.

"Crazy 'bout You Baby" may just have you acting like a crazy person - on the dance floor that is. If you dare to get up for this one you'd better be ready to shake, rattle and roll like you've never shook, rattled and rolled before. If this isn't Franco Paletta and The Stingers audition/demo track, it needs to be. "Hired" is all I'd be able to say.

Listening to the last track, "Baby Won't Let Me Ride", already has me thinking I'll immediately be playing "Can't Kick Love" in it's entirety. As he has for the last forty five minutes, Franco is once again blowing me away with his strong - yet smooth and soulful vocals. William Clarke, Rod Piazza, Darrell Nulisch you now have company as my favorite vocalists.

Other tracks on "Can't Kick Love" include: the title track - "Can't Kick Love", "Southbound", "Messin Around" and "My Baby's Leavin".

For more information on the band, and to purchase a copy of "Can't Kick Love" - a sure candidate for the 2011 Blewzzy Award consideration - just go to www.francopalettaandthestingers.com. While you're there, tell the guys the Blewzzman sent ya.