Sooo… I know some of yall wonder how I get my inspiration for my projects …. well here’s the scoop on FROM THE SHOALS ….
Way back in January 2019 … at the IBC (International Blues Competition) in Memphis Tennessee …. I wondered into the Hard Rock Cafe at it’s new location in the ol’ Elvis Presley club at the corner on 2nd & Beale Street to check out my memorabilia case … that hangs with my blue sparkly gown between Johnny Cash & Little Milton (on the right hand side as you are headed up stairs via the staircase). There I ran into a group of musicians and their family & friends from Croatia (Novigrad-Istra) … it was common to meet folks from Europe on Beale Street … but IBC was alway an exceptional time to do so. These folks were so warm and full of fun, I invited them to join me the following night at my regular show at Silky O’Sullivan’s where I had been performing nightly since 1997 …. So it was cool and fun when they all arrived the following evening … I invited one your man up (Davor Hačić) to join me for a song …. well I had consumed a few wee drams of Jack Daniels …. and his English wasn’t so great and my Croatian was non existent, I would not understand then the pronunciation of what “Hutch” as he is now called was trying to convey to me. But I am now proud to announce my Croatian is getting much better …HA! Anyway … we all spent the remainder of their stay hanging out and sharing stories etc…. then COVID hit … and by March 18, 2020 My almost 25 years on Beale Street came to a screeching halt. I started to get messages on my FB messenger from a mysterious young man…. turned out to be Hutch… so we re-connected and he invited me to come to Croatia to perform 3 shows… All went better than expected. Upon the eve of my departure, September 2nd we sat down in the 9 Pub and started to write songs… we wrote three that night, Lost Young Love, Sailors (we haven used this one yet) & ??? Cant remember the 3rd one…. looked all over for those little pieces of paper … I’ll add in when I find them… someday I hope… Then over the next 5 months we wrote 7 more songs over the internet mostly reflecting on the history of ” The Shoals” “Trail Of Tears” and our journey to the Nutthouse Recording Studio….. I had written 3 songs prior with my friend and GREAT songwriter Mark Narmore from Sheffield AL (Never Stopped Loving You, Severed, & Slideman). Choosing what 2 cover songs Tell Mama (formerly recorded in the Shoals by Etta James with Ricky Hall at Fame and David Hood & Clayton Ivey were both on that session also) & Jimmy Hughes Steal Away …. were not easy choices…. but definitely the correct choices in the end. Being surrounded by musical genus’ is always a plus for any recording… Again I am sooo TOTALLY blessed!! Hvala!!
The Band:
Drums ~ Bernard “Pretty” Purdie
Bass ~ David Hood
B3 & Wurlitzer ~ Clayton Ivey
Piano ~ Mark Narmore
Guitar ~ Will McFarlane
Guitar ~ Davor Hačić – Hutch
Saxophone ~ Brad Guin
Trumpet ~ Marc Franklin
Vocals~ Barbara Blue
BGV ~ Kimberlie Helton ( & Hutch on Curse Of Beauty)
BGV on Song OF The River ~ Hutch, David Hood, Will McFarlane, Mark Narmore, Celia Purdie
The Songs:
1. The Shoals 3:20
B. Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
2. Nutthouse Blues 7:10
B. Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
3. Tell Mama 3:22
C. Carter, W. Terrell, M. Daniel / Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. BMI
4. Steal Away 4:04
J.Hughes / Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. BMI
5. Severed 5:13
B.Blue, M.Narmore / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI / Oven Music INC. BMI
6. Curse of Beauty 4:43
B.Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
7. Lost Young Love 4:40
B.Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
8. Slide Man 3:15
B.Blue, M.Narmore / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI / Oven Music INC. BMI
9. Too Far 7:41
B.Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
10. Nothing Last Forever 3:09
B.Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
11. Never Stopped Loving You 5:12
B.Blue, M.Narmore / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI / Oven Music INC. BMI
12. Song Of The River 6:42
B.Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
13. Trail Of Tears 6:25
B. Blue D.Hacic / Big Bad Blue Publishing BMI
Where it all happened:
Producer: Mr Jim Gaines
Co Producer: Barbara Blue
Mixed by: Mr Jim Gaines
Mastered by: L. Nix Mastering
Recorded at
Nutthouse Studios, Sheffield AL
Engineered by: Jimmy Nutt
Engineer Assistant ~ Jonathan Moody
Drum Tech ~ Justin Holder
&
Bessie Blue Studios
Stantonville TN
Engineered by: Mr Jim Gaines
Special thanks to “Pappa” Jack Martin for the loan of the Wha Wha pedal YOU ROCK! AND
Last but not least … Probably THE MOST IMPORTANT.. The people who helped me financially get this project off of the ground:
Executive Producers:
Dr. Paul Kraisinger
Rose Krebs
Joellyn Sullivan
Barbara Blue
Donna & Smokey Ferrell
Nicolette Armstrong
Judy & Mark Scates
Singer/songwriter Barbara Blue belts the blues on record and live all around the world. Known for her gritty urban blues and smoky Memphis soul, she has released twelve acclaimed recordings |