Sounds and grooves that never say die…
Drummer Doug Clifford was a founding member of the legendary band Creedence Clearwater Revival, with this previously unreleased 1985 album showing that he had moved on and forward. He playing drums, and singing with quite an impressive voice, along with Russell DaShiel on guitar and synthesizer, Chris Solberg on bass and keys and Rob Polomsky on rhythm guitar. As far as his chops go, Clifford shows some nice cymbal work on the Elton Johnish “You Mean So Much To Me” and gives a good back beat on cuts like the born on the bayou-esque “Magic Window”. Keyboards akin to Strawberry Fields creates a hip mood on “Don’t Leave Me Alone Tonight” and peppy rock steady pulses are felt on “Somebody Love Me Tonight” and “Fallin’ For You” with even a dash of New Wave energy emitted on “Don’t Let Go”. A green river of good vibes!
Guitarist and vocalist Rusty Ends is a throwback to the juke jointing gunslinger that dares you to stand still while taking in his hot licks. He’s joined at the hip with Uncle Dave Zirnheld/b, Gene Wickliffe/dr and tenor saxist Gary Falk for an eight beat to the bar affair, using his truck driver’s voice and Chet Atkins-inspired picking on the fun “Cheap Wine” and “Cottonmouth Rock”. He delivers a kind of street rap on the stomping “Hillbilly Hoodoo” and gives a romantic 50s feel with Falk’s tenor guiding the way on “Let Me Cross Your Mind”. His strings twang out a nice howl on the instrumental “Unholy Roller” as well as the sizzling “Sinner’s Strut” while the fingers turn blue on “I Forgot To Say I Love You” and get dark on “We Love Our Way Through The Blues”. Two stepping to heaven.