Tony Holiday – Keep Your Head Up
Several distinctive styles take shape & inhabit Keep Your Head Up (Drops April 18/Forty Below Records/29:13) as recorded by Eric Corne (bgv) at 3 studios — Archer Recording Studios in Memphis, TN, Love Street Sound, Glendale, CA & Forty Below Studios in Encino, CA. A journey from Memphis to Los Angeles through 8 decisive soul blues pieces.
Tony Holiday (vocals/harmonica) expresses himself through music that has a signature sound rooted in the dirt of Texas, the brick & mortar of Chicago & in the hill country, Memphis Blues-tinted tunes & percolating soul with Afro steam. While these are genres that can easily fall victim to routine & recipes, Mr. Holiday manages to maneuver his experience & vocals to shape a resounding bluesy-soulful showcase.
The album opens with an upfront mixed lead guitar & the soulful stylistically potent Tony Holiday. At times he may remind some of varied vocalists of the past – Tony Stone, Robert Palmer, Bobby Caldwell & Boz Scaggs especially on the opener “She’s a Burglar” with its bluesy-easy listening smoke curling around the saloon bottles. A little darker influence shades “Twist My Fate” sung with authority with Kevin Burt (like B.B. King) in tow. Good pairing.
While “Woman Named Trouble” is a fairly good soul in a heavy cream tune, it’s the ‘60s instrumentality that is impressive. The Steve Cropper-like guitar, bold brass blasts & organ swishes all arranged hot & sweaty. Lots of Stax-type recording – stuff that kept Otis Redding at the top of the charts.
The feel continues with “Good Times” with the percolating Bar-Kays/Arthur Conoley type brass swings & guitar slashing & harmonica dissection. Great dance tunes for the soul floor. Holiday has the groove firmly under control & is in total command of its entertaining value.
On “Should’ve Known Better” Holiday skitters across the ice of David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) as he manages the Robert Palmer nuances & the warm decisive Steve Cropper fueled style lead guitar by Laura Chavez captivates the tune. Impressive music.
The mix of rock & soul guitar leads with the funky soul vernacular music is expertly & consistently performed by these musicians. A wholly updated ‘60s soul groove spit & polished for 2025.
Highlights – “She’s a Burglar,” “Twist My Fate,” “Woman Named Trouble,” “Good Times,” & “Should’ve Known Better.”
Musicians – Albert Castiglia & Eddie 9V (lead guitars/vocals), Kevin Burt (vocals), Matt Tecu, Ray Hangan, Andrew McNeil & Eric Freeman (drums), Taras Prodaniuk, Terence Grayson & Gordon Greenwood (bass guitars), Jad Tariq (guitar/bgv), Mark Pender (trumpet), David Ralicke (sax), Laura Chavez (guitar), Sasha Smith (keys), Chad Mason (Fender Rhodes), Saundra Williams & Benton Parker (bgv).
CD cover image courtesy of Jamie Harmon. CD @ Apple Music & Amazon + https://fortybelowrecords.com/store-bU6aL/p/keep-your-head-up-by-tony-holiday & https://tonyholidaymusic.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Tony Holiday “Motel Mississippi”
