REVIEW: John Batdorf “60 Year Old Grove”

John Batdorf – 60 Year Old Groove

John Batdorf has a new album 60 Year Old Groove, his first full length album since 2020’s Last Summer. As John says: “I have been releasing EPs since then but the songs kept coming this time so I went with the full CD. There are nine new Batdorf/McLean songs and one I wrote alone. At age 72, I am thrilled to still be so inspired to write and record. The thrill has not lessened one bit since my debut record, Off The Shelf, in 1971. For an old guy, I’m still pretty damn good!!” All of the songs on 60 Year Old Groove were written by John Batdorf and Michael McLean except “Why Did It Take So Long” which is by John Batdorf. The album was produced, engineered and mixed by John. The album was mastered by Kevin Bartley.

The opening song is the title track and it sets the stage with this to get your attention in the right place:  “In 1964 we all gathered ’round. In 2024 we still love that sound.  Something deep inside us echoes in our bones, if we are feeling lonely, we know we’re not alone.”  “All Dressed Up” is an acoustic tale with sparkly mandolin by Michael Dowdle:  “grabbed an ice cold shop near an old pawn shop where he probably hocked the cross his family gave him.”

John has a great melodious singing voice that really shines especially on the next one, a love song with some cinematic string arrangements: “Always Remember,” “what am I going to do without you?” “Nobody Sees Me” sets up a little bit of a dark groove “nobody believes in me, it’s like they just don’t care… nobody is listening to a single word,” and then he’s off and soaring in this songwriters’ lament.

“Simple Man” is the instruments and shakers in a catchy groove: “I hope I live up to my creed – a simple man, a simple man, a handshake is all I need, and I stand behind everything I say.”  “Somewhere” continues this ideal by hitting the contemporary nail squarely on the head: “Somewhere I can find a place to put the world on hold for awhile, ’til I find my way.  Is there somewhere I don’t have to race to, then turn around just to race again, just to get away? why is the message on this little screen telling me where I should be?”

This album is full of songs with catchy hooks and relatable sentiments and they’re the kinds of songs that you’ll remember days later. John Batdorf has recorded on albums with Adele, Rod Stewart, Dwight Yoakum, Jefferson Starship, and many more, if you’re trying to place him.

Find more information here on his website: http://www.johnbatdorfmusic.com

Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: John Batdorf EP “I’m Not Givin Up”

Acoustic guitars, vocals bass, piano and percussion on the album is all by John Batdorf. Additional backing vocals are by Matt Batdorf (Sixty Year Old Groove/Nobody Sees Me), electric guitars by Michael Dowdle (on Sixty Year Old Groove/Somewhere/All The Time You Need/why Did It Take So Long/All Dressed Up) and additional electric guitars by James Harrah ( Nobody Sees Me/Simple Man/Where Did I Go Right); mandolin by Michael Dowdle (“All Dressed Up”); cello by Diane Sansom with cello arrangement by Renney Senn (“Love Believes In Us”); and the string arrangement on “Always Remember” is by Bill Evans.