Kenny Wayne Shepard Band - Goin' Home

(CD Album Review)

***1/2

Kenny Wayne Shepard eighth Blues album!

'Goin’ Home' is guitarists Kenny Wayne Shepard’s eighth album however this album is the first to be recorded in his hometown of Shepherd’s Shreveport, Louisiana. The album is full of tributes to multiple Blues artists and features musicians such as Ringo Starr, Warren Wayne, Robert Randolph and The Rebirth Band, The first track on the album 'Palace of a King' is a tribute to Freddie King and is an excellent song that consists of female backing vocalists and The Rebirth Band playing horns alongside them. This great track is full of energy and is a great opener to the album and get's everything off to a brilliant start and instantly grabs me into the album and makes me want to listen to the rest.

The following 'Everything’s gonna be Alright' is a another tribute song this time to Magic Sam, and this track is more Blues orientated than the first on the record. This song is quite funny because it glorifies life, love and women, all topics that should be in a good Country or Blues song. The upright bass in the song certainly makes the track sound authentic with a unique old school feel to it and makes you feel the album even more than you do at the start. 'I Love the life I Live' is another cover this time of Muddy Waters and this time is a positive Blues track which is summarised by the tittle. 'The House is Rockin’ tribute to steel guitarist Steven Ray Vaughan is the next track on the album and is a track built up from a piano solo, and is an up tempo melody.

This sound really suits the concept of the album perfectly and makes it something to be really listened to. Although the track hasn’t really changed a lot since the original version it still sounds really great.'Breaking up somebody’s Home' features fellow musician Warren Waynes and is cover of the Albert King song. The vocals on this track sound incredible and provide the song with that Blues / Rock feel to it. The track contains excellent guitar riffs that work perfectly alongside the vocals. 'You done lost your good thing Now' tribute to BB King is a really great Blues moment on the record that certainly shows what this band are capable of. It’s also a slower track on the album consisting of piano solos and great guitars.

'You can’t judge a book by it’s Cover' is another great cover of a Bo Diddley song and although this track doesn’t have the famous Bo Diddley beat it still contains a positive message with a lot of energy. This is a really good feel good song and makes you happy every time you listen to it like 'Boogie Man' a tribute to Freddie King that is carried by the piano leaving a hypnotic groove to the song. The song contains guitar solo’s and fills just as though Freddie would’ve used on the track. Looking back was originally performed by Johnny Guitar’ Watson however the band changed the verse around a small amount.

Although the track is a hybrid version it still sounds like the original 'Cut you Loose' was originally an acoustic song with Junior Wells performing the vocals. However the band had their own take on it and used electrified instruments such as drums and electric bass. The harmonies on this track sound excellent too, this track also features The Beatles legendary drummer Ringo Starr which is a great addition to the album. 'Born under a bad Sign' is a more mainstream song however this is a killer track with a great groover and unique piano which make this a great track to listen to.

Ringo Starr (Pictured Above)

The final song on the album is 'Still a Fool' who's original version was performed by Muddy Waters, and is a track certainly proves that Kenny Wayne Shepard can take any original song and make it their own with a few minor changes. This track also features artist Robert Randolph on it as a bonus which is really cool. Overall this is a great Blues album and all the tracks are as good as the one before.

Review by Heather Lowe