A Tribute to LJK

by Eric Gales

Overview

Memphis bluesman Eric Gales was taught guitar by his older brothers Eugene and Manuel -- the latter known as Little Jimmy King. All three became recording artists; Eugene has a solo career and played with Eric for several years, appearing on Eric Gales Band (1991) and Picture for a Thousand Faces (1993). All three Gales Brothers recorded Left Hand Brand in 1996. Manuel suddenly died of a heart attack in 2002 at age 34. A Tribute to LJK is Eric Gales' heartfelt, star-studded homage to his older brother. Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Gales' band includes bassist MonoNeon, drummer Lemar Carter, backing vocalist Lenesha Randolph, keyboard ace Gerald Jenkins, and guests Bonamassa, Smith, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Buddy Guy, and Roosevelt Collier. The set offers three tunes by Eugene, two by Manuel, and tunes associated with the latter. It kicks off with the B.B. King/Joe Josea classic "You Shouldn't Have Left Me." Its rave-up Chicago style showcases the Hammond and a horn section. Eugene's and Paul Ebersold's "Rockin Horse Ride" is a funky, strutting jump blues with Ingram as Randolph backs Gales' vocal. "Guitar Man" was also written by Eugene and Ebersold. Delving deep into the Memphis tradition, it bears Eric's biting contemporary touch and soulful vocal (his singing throughout is fantastic) in addition to a sizzling solo filled with wah-wah and distortion. Thomas Bingham's "Don't Wanna Go Home" finds Bonamassa offering his spiky retro Brit-blues-style fills and a solo that adds a sharper edge to Gales' vocal. The choice to record Danny Kirwan's 1969 Fleetwood Mac vehicle, "Something Inside of Me," showcases Gales' more economical guitar playing, which is drenched in the Chicago tradition and offers an explosive solo in closing. LJK's "Baby Baby" is saturated in the swinging, horn-driven funky blues that was his trademark. Gales' vocal delivers smooth tones that add ballast to the biting, ringing, distorted guitar break; Randolph takes a gospelized solo vocal in its final third. There is a stellar reading of Reuben Fairfax, Jr.'s (Al Green, Mavis Staples) "It Takes a Whole Lotta Money." Bonamassa plays slide and rhythm guitars while Smith plays rhythm and adds backing vocals alongside Randolph and Gales for a Ray Charles-esque feel. Manuel's sultry "Worried Man" is a polished soul-blues with horns that knit together tension, sorrow, and betrayal. Manuel co-wrote the screaming, funky blues of "Blues Been Too Good to Me" with Archie Turner. Its knotty opening vamp is almost prog, while the rhythm section and horns drive the funk and Gales' solo rains down Hendrix-ian fire. Jenkins' B-3 solo is also a chunky delight. Closer "Somebody" was composed by Eugene and hosts Buddy Guy and pedal steel bluesman Roosevelt Collier. It begins slow and sexy with Guy's iconic vocal style meeting Gales' testifying before pedal steel and lead guitar begin winding together and trading fours in an overdriven segue that eventually returns to the song's acoustic roots. Gales has been releasing winner after winner since 2017's Middle of the Road. This set is no exception given the choice of material, players, and celebratory, souled-out feel. Tribute to LJK stands with the guitarist's very best. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	10/24/2025
Label:	Provogue
UPC:	8712725750802

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Eric Gales   Primary Artist