"Cemetery Road" & "Buckingham
Peace Of Mind"
Buckingham Blues
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
© January 2010
When faced with the dilemma
of receiving two CDs from Tommy Lee Cook, that were released
at the same time, with a request from Tommy for me to review
whichever disc I wanted to, it should already be quite obvious that the
decision was just too tough to make. Therefore, I'm going to have a
little fun and do my first ever "rereview" (yeah, yeah, I know that's not a
word).
Except for one guitar player,
the differences between the performers on the two discs are basically
nil. Each disc contains eleven tracks of which five are
originals. Joining Tommy Lee Cook, on lead vocals and rhythm,
dobro & acoustic guitars are: Ted Scott and Bill Canty on drums, Harry
Cassano and Pat Hayes on keyboards, Rex Bongo, Duke Danger and Danny Shepard on
lead guitar, Justin Richey and Rastus Kane on slide guitar, August Zona on bass,
Scott "Big Daddy" Johnson and Pat Hayes on harp, Terry Gable on horn and The
Skin'er Back Quartet of Harry, Pat, Daddy and Tommy on background vocals and
claps.
The "Cemetery Road" disc
opens with an impressive version of my favorite tribute song - "Six Strings
Down". As with the original, the guitar work is
fabulous. Also highlighting this track are the outstanding lead and
harmony vocals.
"Cemetery Road", the title
track, is a heavyhearted ballad that, in spite of very nice slide and rhythm
work, is all Tommy. On this original track, his mournful and soul
filled vocals are chilling. This is the kind country
blues song that if performed by someone with the popularity of
Trace Adkins would become a number one country hit.
Like all men, Tommy gets so easily led
when that "Little Head" does the thinkin'. The rhythm guys take
the spotlight on this one. Ted, August and Harry get the drums, bass and
piano locked into one of those foot tappin', head bobbin' grooves and never let
it go.
Everyone gets in some highlights
on "Porta Rican Woman" (sic) - the discs
hottest blues track. The guitars, the keyboards and the harp at
one time or another - and often simultaneously - are smoking, and the
vocals and rhythm are outstanding throughout.
The "Buckingham Peace Of Mind"
disc opens with a very funky and well done version of Dylan's
"Serve Somebody". As a matter of fact, this could very well be
the best version I've ever heard. Ted, August and Terry got that
funky feeling down pat on rhythm, Big Daddy's blowin' heat out of the harp,
Justin's beside himself on slide, and Tommy - sounding like a Gospel singer - is
awesome on vocals. Replays took me nearly thirty minutes to
listen to this six minute track.
"Consequences" is another slow, blues
filled ballad on which Tommy sings his heart out. That, and some serious
guitar licks split between Rex and Duke, clearly make this one of this
discs best.
"Buckingham Peace Of Mind", the
title track, is another excellent country blues track. This one features
some of the discs best drum work from Billy and lots of good guitar playin' -
some of which comes from Tommy, on acoustic guitar.
Everyone's showin' off their stuff on
"Too Much Stuff". This one's an all out kick ass jam. Who
ever's on it, and whatever they're playin' is being played fast and hot.
I'm winded just listening. What a perfect song to close on.
Other tracks on "Cemetery
Road" include: "Big Boss Man", "Bending Like A Willow Tree",
"Late Night Drive", "Nothing Lasts Forever", "Blues As Blues Can Get", "Too
Drunk To Boogie", and "Little Sister".
Other tracks on "Buckingham
Peace Of Mind" include: "Monkey Around", "Down Home Girl", "Cross To
Bear", "Country Song", "Lie No Better", "Get Right", and "Late Last
Night".
You can check Tommy Lee Cook out at
several places. The first one is his web site which is
www.tommyleecook.com. That's
where you'll be able to pick up both of these discs.
The second is at his blues club.
If you happen to live in the area of Southwest Florida, stop in and see him at
the
Buckingham Blues Bar. Once you're
there, tell Tommy the Blewzzman told you all about him.
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
