Albert Castiglia – Righteous Souls
While not as growly or as tall as the late English blues singer Long John Baldry, Albert (vocals/guitar) lays out his blues vocally & stylistically a little like Baldry with a ballsy tradition & peppers his efforts with stellar lead guitar throughout.
There are 11 blessings on Righteous Souls (Drops July 19/Gulf Coast Records/56:27) produced by Kid Andersen (guitar/keys/vocals) & recorded in San Jose, CA. Several guest appearances sweeten the proceedings on this platter to bring out the flavors: Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Christone Kingfish Ingram, Popa Chubby, Ally Venable, Monster Mike Welch & Gary Hoey (guitars), Rayne Castiglia, Danielle Nicole, Kevin Burt & Alabama Mike (vocals), Rick Estrin (harmonica) & Jimmy Carpenter (sax).
The album features some duets with well-engrained bluesy singers including a Brenda Patterson-Kathi McDonald-like Danielle Nicole on the Rick Danko-Eric Clapton piece “All Our Past Times.” On “You Can’t Judge a Book By the Cover,” an old Willie Dixon tune & was recorded by Baldry (produced by Rod Stewart & Elton John) a bit rawer Albert captures his more entertainingly with additional vocals by Christone Kingfish Ingram & Rayne Castiglia. This is a good set of blues.
It has a mainstream appeal but don’t misunderstand me — I don’t mean like pop music commerciality. People who aren’t blues enthusiasts can & will be able to sink their teeth into this. It’s well played with an attractive swipe; the vocals are spiffy & dynamic as they are on Albert’s original tune “Till They Take It Away” with his Mason Ruffner (“Gypsy Blood”) type vocal & guitar attack.
There is some well-played basic stuff. The obligatory impressive takes that always draw out the hoots & howls. But I look for ingredients that have rendered the tunes spicier, the way a fruity flavor creeps up on the tongue after you swallow the wine. These songs are served without the gristle of the blues.
Castiglia has the perfect vocal tone & blues continuity. He has the necessary timbre to ensure authenticity & a lived-in purity. With “You Were Wrong,” has a nice funky soul workout (a Bar-Kays “Soul Finger” exuberance & sax solo right out of “Wild Weekend,” by the early ’60s Rockin’ Rebels. There’s a little Paul Butterfield Blues Band tradition with the vocalizing & guitar machinery that spews smoke in every direction with harmonica bursts on “What My Momma Told Me” — invigorating, exciting.
Highlights – “Mama, I Love You,” “You Can’t Judge a Book By The Cover,” “All Our Past Times,” “Till They Take It Away,” “You Were Wrong,” “What My Momma Told Me” & “No Tears Left To Cry.”
Musicians – Jerry Jemmott (bass), Jim Pugh (keys), Derrick D’Mar Martin (drums), Lisa Andersen (bgv), Jon Otis (percussion), Jack Sanford (baritone sax) & Eddie Tarczy (harpsichord).
CD cover photo by Eduardo Whaite. CD @ Apple + https://www.albertcastiglia.net/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Albert Castiglia Rocks the Blues on the Live Album “Wild and Free”