Blues Music Review: Downchild - I Need A Hat - Linus Entertainment 2010

It's an album that's up for "Blues Album of the Year" at the 2010 Juno Awards on April 18, 2010...and it hasn't even hit store shelves yet! (I Need A Hat is available in stores and through online retailers on April 6, 2010.) And, in spite of all this, would you believe me if I told you I'd never heard the Downchild Blues Band before?!

Please don't call my credibility into question. I have admitted regularly in my reviews that while I am a devout Blues fan, and a student of the genre's path to legendary status, I don't know everything and I haven't heard everybody. I don't pretend to, either. Being a huge fan of The Blues Brothers, I have known of Downchild's status as the inspiration for the band for many years, but that is the extent of my education on Downchild. That being said, I realize Downchild is one of those bands that someone looking into starting a Blues collection should at least check out early on, and for whatever reason, I missed that train.

The advantage that I DO have as a result, is that I can approach I Need A Hat with an open mind, and no preconceived opinions on the band. So, without any further ado, let's get crackin'.

Donnie Walsh, a.k.a. "Mr. Downchild," started the band in 1969, and over the course of the next 40 years and 80 musicians that have been Downchild alumni, proceeded to firm up the band's reputation as one of the greatest examples of Blues showmanship in the business. In addition to being a top tier harp player and guitar ace, Walsh has become a prolific songwriter, as well. He penned all of the songs on I Need A Hat, save for "Down In the Delta" and "Time To Say Goodbye," which were written by lead vocalist Chuck Jackson. Walsh also handles lead vocal duties on "These Thoughts Keep Marching" and "Some More of That."

Downchild also features Pat Carey on both tenor and baritone saxophone, Michael Fonfara on keys, and the core rhythm section of Gary Kendall on bass and Mike Fitzpatrick on drums. Peter Jeffrey guests on trumpet for the band on all but two of the album's 11 tunes.

I Need A Hat kicks off with the rollicking guitar and horns on "This Must Be Love." I really dig Jackson's vocal delivery. It's hard for me to explain, but it's got a little grit, a little shout, and a lot of bravado. I can easily see this as a set opener for the band's live shows. The title cut follows, with more of Walsh's skillful picking across the frets. The lyrics are humorous, jokingly discussing the need to possess some sort of distinguishing fashion accessory in order to reach worldwide recognition: "All that money I could have made, all the girls I could have met...Big fancy cars, going to gigs in a jet. I hope it's not too late to get to where it's at. I guess it's time to break down and get myself a hat."

"Somebody Lied" is a straight-up "everything's gone wrong" Blues that features the first in a series of fabulous guest appearances on I Need A Hat. Second generation Canadian Blues man Colin James sits in on lead guitar, and features prominantly with his own solo. Legendary Stax Records alumni and member of The Memphis Horns, Wayne Jackson, is also featured in an absolutely sublime trumpet solo on the song. Wayne Jackson returns with his horn later in the disc on "These Thoughts Keep Marching."

"You Don't Love Me" is the other tune that features friends of the Downchild Blues Band jamming with the boys in studio. Colin Linden provides a sometimes muddy, sometimes soaring electric guitar solo; and Downchild disciple Dan Aykroyd guests on harmonica. Donnie Walsh plays harp alongside Aykroyd on the track, with Aykroyd providing the solo.

"Rendezvous" is a mid-tempo shuffle that got me to thinking, I need to get Mrs. Full-Time out of the house and onto the dance floor. "Down In the Delta" features what's in my opinion, the best example of Kendall and Fitzpatrick's work as a rhythm section. They stand out above the other players on this track, and sound magnificent! I love the horn parts on the song, as well. Chuck Jackson provides harp on both of his compositions, "Down In the Delta" and "Time To Say Goodbye," a Slow Blues that also features some terrific organ by Fonfara, including an organ solo that brought a smile to my face a mile wide.

"What Was I Thinking" is my favorite example of Jackson's vocals, and Walsh squeezes in another great harp solo. Walsh takes lead vocals for "These Thoughts Keep Marching," if you want to call them vocals. It's more like spoken word with some interesting effects. Chuck Jackson sings the refrain on a track that features more of Wayne Jackson's trumpet, as well as some ver socially conscious lyrics.

I Need A Hat wraps up with "Some More of That" and "El Stew." The former features some more of Walsh's work on both lead vocals and harmonica. The latter is a great instrumental that lets the listener groove their way out of the nearly 46-minute album.

It's easy to see why I Need A Hat is nominated for that Juno Award for "Best Blues Album." Juno Awards, by the way, are the Canadian equivalent to the Grammys. Here's hoping Downchild brings it home in a couple weeks, when the trophies are handed out.

Standout Tracks: All of Them, Especially "Somebody Lied," "Rendezvous," "I Need A Hat," and "What Was I Thinking"

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