Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

After a break of some four years since his last album, Kansas City-based bluesman Jimmie Bratcher has released an album of classic country compositions which he has reinterpreted as blues songs. The man they call the Electric Rev is well known for his blues guitar and vocal prowess and he has succeeded in turning stalwarts such as Jimmie Davis' "You Are My Sunshine" and "Singing The Blues" by Marty Robbins into bona fide Bratcher blues offerings whilst breathing new life into these much-covered songs. The album kicks off with a down home reading of the Hank Williams hit "Honky Tonk Blues" which, as Bratcher pointed out in a recent Cross Rhythms interview, has more than a hint of the parable of the prodigal son to it and he teasingly leaves the famous Williams yodel - which he absolutely nails - till the very end. Elsewhere, a slow minor key blues version of Hank Snow's "I Don't Hurt Anymore" is utterly sublime whilst the Don Gibson/Ray Charles song "I Can't Stop Loving You" ends a hugely enjoyable album in style. In other hands, a project that vastly augments such treasured songs may well have fallen flat on its face but, with the calibre of material and Bratcher's sheer talent, this is a sure fire winner.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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