Album Notes

In her debut album Read the Road Signs, Carol Bean’s original songs link her upbringing in Los Angeles to her life in New Zealand. She fronts the Wellington blues band Blue Highways. Carol is now recording her second album (working title: Flying Under the Radar) which will be out at the end of the 2007.
REVIEW:
CAROL BEAN: A new voice amongst our fine women of rock.
Carol is sassy and seductive - rock'n'country blues at its best. She delivers songs with a passion that draws you in for more. This album brings together her wealth of musical experience as a regular performer at events like the legendary South of the Divide. Blues rock is in her blood-from teenage years in LA listening to blues musicians like Mississippi John Hurt, Lightin Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, and Doc Watson at the legendary Ash Grove music venue. She plays a mean guitar, thanks to early lessons from the great Ry Cooder at McCabes Music and from David Cohen at the Ash Grove. For her debut, she's assembled a talented cast of kiwi musicians. I suggest you check this fine album out for yourself. It is nicely sound packaged by the able hands of Robbie Duncan at Braeburn Studio Wellignton, New Zealand. (Liz Barry -NZ Musician Vol 13 No 1. 2006)

more reviews on http://www.carolbean.com/press.asp

As her song Land of Smiles says, Carol was "born in the middle of England, was a girl in Ontario, she moved to LA, Hollywood - just north of Mexico". This album showcases Carol’s ability to create songs with driving rhythm and great feel. Her unique voice and style of playing guitar move easily from the blues through to rock and alt/country backed by an exciting line up of New Zealand musicians.

Carol specialises in playing funky blues riffs and soulful West Coast rhythmic rock on her various guitars. Her acoustic style includes Travis picking and her electric rhythmic-hooks style is accented by quirky turn-arounds. She draws on a variety of influences from blues and rock for example: Debbie Davies (from the bands of Albert Collins and Coco Montoya), Bonnie Raitt, James McMurtry, Rolling Stones, and New Zealand’s Darren Watson and Bullfrog Rata. Some of her alt/country influences are Lucinda Williams, Eliza Gilkyson, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and John Doe. Occasionally she incorporates the brooding sounds of European and Cajun music (gypsy/Celtic mixes) into her solo and band songs.

Carol plays a Gretsch Duo Jet 1957 reissue that she bought at the Guitar Centre in Hollywood on one of her visits to LA in October, 2005. Carol also plays a 1954 Martin 0021 that Ry Cooder spotted for her at Reno’s Music Store on Pacific Coast Highway, Manhattan Beach. On Read the Road Signs she primarily plays her EC10 Gibson semi-acoustic (pictured on the album cover) and an MIJ Fender/Squire Stratocaster. She plays her electrics through a Fender Deluxe amp, uses a TS9 Tube Screamer, and AKG mics.

Read the Road Signs was produced by Carol Bean with assistance from Clinton Brown (NZ) and Tom Villano (USA). It was recorded mixed and mastered at Braeburn Recording Studio, Wellington, by Robbie Duncan.

The musicians invovled include:
Steve Cournane on drums (award winning CL Bob jazz band) and Clinton Brown on bass (Wayne Mason Band). On guitars Michael Petrie, Mark Laurent, and Ray Ahipene-Mercer lend their talents and virtuosity. Blair Latham (CL Bob) takes the smoky honours for his saxophone playing along with Bob Smith's Hammond organ sounds with the classic Leslie speakers. Richard Klein (Ar-Kay Cajun Band) plays fiddle on a slow and brooding number while at the other end of the spectrum Lester Mundell and John Broadbent play duelling harmonicas on a swinging dance tune. Added to the mix are two songs with the Celtic sounds of Live Bait’s Paddy Burgin http://www.burginguitars.co.nz/ on his Weissenborn slide guitar and mandolin, Ruairidh Morrison on pipes and fiddle, and Bernard Wells, banjo.