Closer to the Bone

Closer to the Bone

by Tommy Castro
Closer to the Bone

Closer to the Bone

by Tommy Castro

Vinyl LP(Long Playing Record)

$29.99 
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Overview

Closer to the Bone is Tommy Castro's first album in four years. His last LP, the stellar A Bluesman Came to Town, is a concept set tracing the life of an itinerant bluesman. It includes some of the finest originals in Castro's long career, including the gospel-blues "Child Don't Go," the title track, and "I Want to Go Back Home." It may initially seem odd that after four years, the guitar slinger and band return with a set that includes only three originals; the remainder are covers written by Castro's friends and heroes. It contains the raw, unpolished blues (not blues rock) songs his last album's protagonist would play in roadhouses. The Painkillers remain keyboardist Mike Emerson, bassist/backing vocalist Randy McDonald, and drummer Bowen Brown. The album was produced by Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, who plays numerous instruments. Further, Castro invited a large cast of guests including saxophonist Deanna Bogart, Chris Cain, Rick Estrin, a full horn section, and more. The set opens with "Can't Catch a Break," a choogler that swings as the horns, led by baritone sax and a bumping bassline, frame Castro's rough, whiskey-soaked vocals and stinging guitar fills. He follows with a fantastic, steamy read of Jimmy Nolen's "The Way You Do." The interplay between the piano, a syncopated, shuffling drum kit, and a walking bassline opens the gate for the guitarist, who offers an economical solo that fits his soulful vocal. Johnny Nitro's "One More Night" is an homage to the legendary San Francisco bluesman -- Castro even plays the composer's 1966 Fender Stratocaster to underscore out his tribute. Original "Crazy Woman Blues" is a slow, gritty, late-night Chicago blues reminiscent of Luther Allison. Cain's "Woke Up and Smelled the Coffee" is another Chicago-styled groover, this time uptempo and rattling with boogie woogie piano, B-3, and a punched-up, dirty guitar sound. Johnny Guitar Watson's "She Moved Me" is an excellent meld of R&B-styled horns, boogie guitar, and a swinging rhythm section behind Bogart's killer sax solo. Castro's Ain't Worth the Heartache" is a classic, using the Bo Diddley beat on guitar, framed by roiling tom-toms and kick drum as Billy Branch's harmonica delivers a wailing solo before Castro's. It's followed by an excellent version of Ray Charles' soul-blues ballad "A Fool for You." The set closes with three astonishing covers. Hank Penny's jump classic "Bloodshot Eyes" led by roadhouse horns and upright piano, also contains a fine tenor solo from Bogart. Eddie Taylor's "Stroll Out West" straddles the Delta-Texas blues divide. Castro's singing here is some of the most expressive of his career -- his moaning falsetto is a killer. The final cut is a resonant read of Brownie McGee's "Hole in the Wall." With a backing vocal chorus, squalling B-3, cut-time snare shuffle, and a pulsing, single-note bassline, Castro's guitar playing goes at the entire maelstrom as his singing claims authority over it all. On Closer to the Bone, the artist is personally influenced by and committed to these covers, and supplements them with originals that carry the same weight. All killer, no filler. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date: 02/07/2025
Label: Alligator Records
UPC: 0014551502517

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tommy Castro   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Resonator)
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers   Primary Artist
Christoffer Andersen   Bass,Organ,Piano,Bass (Upright),Guitar (Rhythm),Fender Jazz Bass
Chris Cain   Piano
Bowen Brown   Drums
Deanna Bogart   Vocals,Sax (Tenor)
June Core   Drums
Endre Tarczy   Piano
Scott Jensen   Trumpet
Mike Rinta   Trombone
Rick Estrin   Harmonica
Mike Emerson   Keyboards
Randy McDonald   Bass,Vocals
Billy Branch   Harmonica
Dwayne Morgan   Vocals (Background)
Jim Pugh   Organ,Piano
James Morgan   Vocals (Background)
Jack Sanford   Sax (Baritone)
Lisa Leuschner Andersen   Voices

Technical Credits

Christoffer Andersen   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Ray Charles   Composer
Jimmy Nolen   Composer
Chris Cain   Composer
Bowen Brown   Group Member
Eddie Taylor   Composer
Ruth Hall   Composer
Joe New   Composer
Sam Ling   Composer
Ron Thompson   Composer
Mike Emerson   Group Member
Randy McDonald   Composer,Group Member
Hank Penny   Composer
Tommy Castro   Composer,Liner Notes,Group Member
Brownie McGhee   Composer
Bruce Iglauer   Mastering
Gary Duke   Composer
Mark Gilbert   Composer
Kevin Niemiec   Package Design
Johnny Watson   Composer
Collin Jordan   Mastering
Dragan Tasic   Photography
Britt Lundberg   Band Logo Design
Laura Carbone   Photography
Johnny Newton   Composer
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