Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

by Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

Overview

Robert Bradley was a Detroit street singer for years before he was convinced to enter the studio by a group of young alternative rockers. The resulting album, Blackwater Surprise, is indeed surprising -- an effective collaboration between a blind blues musician and a sympathetic Detroit rock trio. The band wisely decided to stay in the background and let Bradley do his thing -- namely, improvising blues and soul shuffles and stomps in his extraordinary voice. On paper, the music sounds simple, but there's unexpected depth -- there are shades of gospel, soul, Motown and hard rock on the album, and a string section appears on a handful of cuts. Most of the album consists of first takes, and the music has an infectious, spontaneous feeling that is exhilarating. It may have taken Bradley a long time to enter the studio, but this unique record was worth the wait. [The CD was also released with a bonus track.] ~ Thom Owens

Product Details

Release Date:	09/17/1996
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0078636691923

Tracks

1. Bellybone
2. Comin' Down
3. California
4. Shake It Off
5. Once upon a Time
6. Trouble Brother
7. Way Back
8. Governor
9. Burn
10. After You Love
11. For the Night

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise   Primary Artist
Kid Rock   Guest Artist
Robert Bradley   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Wurlitzer
Andrew Nehra   Bass,Piano,Percussion,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Michael Nehra   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Johnny Evans   Saxophone
Ed Hawrysch   Organ,Wurlitzer
Jeff Fowlkes   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Bones   Organ

Technical Credits

Robert Bradley   Composer
Andrew Nehra   Composer,Producer,Cover Design,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Howie Weinberg   Mastering
Michael Nehra   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Al Sutton   Assistant Engineer
Bryan Dombrowski   Assistant Engineer
Amy Wenzler   Art Direction
Dave Plechura   Assistant Engineer
Ian Gittler   Photography
Al Sitton   Mixing Assistant
Jack Nelson   Cover Design
Jeff Fowlkes   Composer
Bobby East   Mixing Assistant
Pete d'Agostino   Cover Design
John Smerek   Assistant Engineer