Rumford, RI (Top40 Charts/ Mark Pucci Media) Sweetspot Records announces a March 15 release date for The Goods, the latest collection of blues, soul, R&B and gospel music from singer, songwriter and cornetist Al Basile, with national distribution by City Hall Records. The 2010 Blues
Music Award nominee's new album was produced by Duke Robillard, whose band also backs Al Basile on The Goods, along with saxman extraordinaire Doug James. Basile, Robillard and
James were all original members of Roomful of Blues. Special guests are five time Grammy Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, The
Blind Boys of Alabama, who provide backing vocals on the inspirational gospel song, "Lie Down in
Darkness (Raise Up in Light").
The Goods is Al Basile's eighth album, and continues along the path he forged with his very first release of merging scintillating lyrics to the music of the blues, soul, R&B and gospel. Basile is a frequently published poet, making him that rare songwriter who writes formal verse that's also respected by the literary establishment. Dubbed "the bard of the blues" for his storytelling prowess, Basile presents his strongest collection yet of tales about memorable characters thrust into unique situations, with twists and turns that would make Raymond Chandler proud. This "blues noir" style of writing informs many of the songs on the new album: a bank robber being chased by the police, complete with screeching tires, wailing sirens and gunfire ("1.843 Million"); a guy who wakes up in the middle of the night and can't stop scratching ("The Itch'); a man whose girlfriend learned about sex from watching porn ("Reality Show"); and a poor soul who laments to the man who invented the telephone about why he hates it ("Mr. Graham Bell").
The music throughout The Goods is laced with blues, soul and gospel influences from Memphis, Muscle Shoals and New Orleans on songs like the bouncy opening track, "The Price (I Got to Pay);" the pleading ballad, "Time Can Wait;" the grooving "I Want to Put It There" and "She's a Taker;" and the powerful gospel track, "Pealing Bells," that recalls "St. James Infirmary" with Basile's cornet solo. Al Basile's 2010 Blues Music Award nomination was for his cornet playing, and he uses his horn to full advantage on these tracks, crafting stark, pungent horn solos that perfectly complement his smoky, soulful vocals. With the in-the-pocket backing of the musicians, in particular Duke Robillard, who coaxes his best Steve Cropper-like rhythm playing throughout, as well as some of his most inventive lead guitar work, and the soulful horns of Doug James, who plays just the right groove for each song, The Goods delivers - in spades.
"When it comes to the world of words, Al Basile is a Renaissance man," writes freelance journalist Ken Franckling in the album's liner notes. "He's fashioned a lifetime of work from them and around them. Poems, short stories, plays and much more. And, of course, songs. He has evolved into a master of two particular forms - poetry and the blues. And in his hands, horn and voice, the words and music intersect in a fascinating way."
For more information, visit www.albasile.com.
