Sam Morrow – On the Ride Here
Sam is five albums deep into a career of modern-day roots, roadhouse rock n’ roll dipped liberally in the grease of R&B, swampy blues & country oil. In a word, it’s driving, enthusiastic & spirited. This is where J.J. Cale & Tony Joe White were (check Sam’s “On My Way”) but Sam adds a more mainstream finesse.
The 11 cuts that make On the Ride Here (Drops March 22/Copaco/Blue Elan Records/39:00) were produced in Glendale, CA by Eric Corne (bgv/percussion) & Sam Morrow (vocals/electric guitar/percussion). There are lots of Leon Russell-type arrangements to some tunes & Sam has a generous amount of early Delaney & Bonnie & Friends groove (“Comin’ Home”). That groove is captured throughout, but Morrow has his distinct tone & intonation to his lyrical pronouncements that sets him generously apart from most.
But I suggest that Sam Morrow maintains a genre, not many mine anymore. He does it with deep-toned flexibility, imagination & just enough sugar for his songs to succeed in sweetening a stranger’s soul as they listen & tap their toes. This could be saloon music, juke joint jive (“Medicine Man”) & festival red-hots with cold beer melodies.
Now, “Searching For Paradise,” is a miracle to my ears – Sam sounds like the magnificent Climax Blues Band vocalist burning bright on “Berlin Blues” & “Couldn’t Get It Right” — tunes from that “Gold Plated” era. Sam’s song has a strong resemblance, but it’s done with grace & danger.
A shift into “Straight & Narrow,” provides a more soulful southern fried dive with a Muscle Shoals feel. Quite good. Back in a more rock n’ roll gear comes “More,” with typically slurred lyrics that emanate with more feel than clarity. It’s well-recorded & captures a cool groove. I could hear Janis Joplin cover this if she was still vertical. Song is designed to be a live performance attraction.
I like this guy; he wraps up vintage sounds (Dr. John, Leon Russell, Climax Blues Band) into a tight package of modernized swipes without ever imitating anyone. He possesses whatever it was that made those artists special. Morrow dazzles with sustenance at every turn. “Tighter,” starts with the distinct riffs typical of ZZ Top & it grooves along succinctly with nothing tawdry. His vocals are borderline Boz Scaggs on this. Sam smokes such tunes individually down to the filter.
Highlights – “By Your Side,” “Medicine Man,” “Searching For Paradise,” “Straight & Narrow,” “More,” “Tighter,” “On My Way,” “Hired Gun” & nice low flame rocker “St. Peter.”
Musicians – Eli Wulfmeier (electric guitars), Sasha Smith (Wurlitzer/piano/Hammond & vox organ/clavinet), Matt Tecu & Butch Norton (drums/percussion), Ted Russell Kamp & Adam Arcos (bass), Eamon Ryland (electric & slide guitars) & Gia Ciambotti (bgv)
Lyrics included. Color image courtesy of Sam’s website by Rico DeLeon. CD @ https://blueelan.com/cdn/shop/files/Sam-Morrow-Digital-Album-_1200px_2000x.png?v=1707254681 & https://www.sammorrowmusic.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Sam Morrow “Gettin By on Gettin Down” Alleviates the Pandemic Blues