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Track Listings
| 1. Diddley Bo |
| 2. Big Green and Yeller |
| 3. Happy [To Have A Job] |
| 4. The Banjo Song |
| 5. Man From Another Time |
| 6. That's All |
| 7. Just Because I Can [CSX] |
| 8. Never Go West |
| 9. Dark |
| 10. Wenatchee |
| 11. My Home [Blue Eyes] |
| 12. Seasick Boogie |
Product Description
Review
There aren’t many artists around who can get a groove out of a one-stringed guitar, but Seasick Steve can. It’s not so much a guitar as a piece of two by four with a string nailed to it. He calls it his Diddley Bow, and the resultant groove is exactly that as laid down by the bloke who (almost) had that name, only in reverse.
This third solo album is a cracking collection, one that rings with the depth of twang comparable only to the likes of the legendary Ry Cooder. That’s not surprising, given that Steve (real name Steven Gene Wold) sticks just as assiduously to the analogue way, all valve amps and ribbon microphones along with the extraordinarily-built instruments he uses: he introduces track three by saying, “Alright, little cigar box…”
That track is called Happy (To Have a Job), and it sums up Steve’s career. Born “around the post-war period” in Oakland, in the San Francisco Bay area, it seems he was a genuine, bona-fide hobo, fathering children fairly liberally, hitting it off with the grunge fraternity in Washington. Then came a move to Norway with the wife, which included a booze-cruise to Denmark, his reaction to which gave him the nickname he doesn’t particularly like, but is lumbered with.
Then, a couple of years ago, a few prescient UK festival bookers took a chance and he became the darling of the circuit, working audiences brilliantly and showing just how few trappings you need to nail it when you have this sort of natural ability. Steve’s spell in the spotlight might have arrived late in his life, but nobody can argue it’s not been deserved.
He has produced, written, recorded and engineered this release, and performs everything except the drums – here, Dan Magnusson steps in. Some listeners may bemoan a lack of bass in the mix, and to hear this material with a little more low end could be a treat, but that really is being picky. The groove, as you might already have noted, is impeccable; the songs are authentic and it all sounds so effortless – an effortlessness that can only come from a lot of living. --Nick Barraclough
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
He's Back!,
By M. Dowden (London, UK) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Man From Another Time (Audio CD)
I first heard Seasick Steve a few years ago now on Jools Holland's Hootenanny and was blown away. With lyrics written by himself and simple catchy music Steve produces the kind of music that others can only dream of. It is refreshing in a world of music that has become in many cases too commercialised that people like Seasick Steve are still around keeping things pure - especially on the Blues scene, where the songs are supposed to speak to us.
On this album are in total 12 tracks with Dan Magnusson playing drums on 7 of them. Where Steve really excels is when he is playing and singing by himself and these tracks are really good. All in all this is a brilliant album to have. If you are looking at this item then you probably already know Steve's work from previous albums, but if this is your first time then you are in for a real treat if you get this. Although there are 12 tracks on this there are in fact 13 because if you listen to the last track it is extended, and after everyone says their goodbyes the song plays; Amy LaVere sings on this track.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!,
By
This review is from: Man From Another Time (MP3 Download)
Got the free track from Amazon. Normally would not have touched with a barge-pole. did not think I liked blues and his picture put me off - he looks a bit Hicksville. but the free tack was great and so got the whole album straight away. all the tracks are as good as the freebie, some good singing, some good tunes, and a great laid-back feel. a class album.
55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Whatever Time You're From,
By
This review is from: Man From Another Time (Audio CD)
You cannot help but love Seasick Steve. He looks like a man who has travelled all over the world and his music and lyrics are filled with the consequent maturity and perspective. The opener to this album is a track called `Diddley Bo'. It is a phenomenal track filled with driving energetic drums and a lead line played on some kind of homemade lap steel instrument. To follow this `Big Green and Yeller' swaggers and struts with a more than accomplished riff and a wonderful rock vocal. This wouldn't be out of place in the 70's and yet it feels just as timeless today. Recent single `Happy (To Have a Job)' is well placed at track three with its stripped back production, bouncy folk guitar and deep vocals. `Banjo Song' then descends further into Seasick Steve's stripped back country sounds in such a way that you can't help but smiling at the simplicity.
After this the title track starts confidently with plodding drums before Steve's vocals ring through over a sliding and twanging guitar line. This is a wonderfully honest track. To follow this `That's All' struts with more of the same confidence and a produces a growing desire in me to dance in stereotypical hill billy fashion. The sound then returns to a more stripped back state with `Just Because I Can' which is a sombre and gentle travelling song. It acts almost as a prologue to `Never Go West' which though more energetic is angry and slightly bitter. On `Dark' Steve then produces a sombre and slightly remorseful track. Ultimately the album closes out in similar style to the way it started. `Seasick Boogie' is plodding with a wonderfully bouncy guitar line. The whole package is then held together with Steve's vocals once more growling throughout. Once Steve, Vance, Roy and Nathan have said goodbye and Steve has set up a bit of a party you are treated to a beautifully soft version of Hank William's `I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.' Seasick Steve is a character almost unlike any other in the music industry today and albums like this are an absolute joy to listen to filled with wonderful stories, emotion and no small slice of fun.
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