This is a great CD - an extremely good mesh of Blues sounds and Christian lyrics.
                            Read more...
                        

                            
Blues Revue / Brooks, Danny and the Rockin Revelators
Soulsville/Rock This House
 
Cook Up the Old-Time Soul Stew, (12/20/06)
The cover of the album has a map of Memphis and the surrounding tri-state area, an area from which Danny Brooks draws a heavy influence. Brooks does not try to hide these influences as he talks about them in his extensive liner notes and also in his songs. This is a solid R&B album full of horns, keys, and strong vocals.

This is a very upbeat affair with a positive spin that's contagious. These guys love what they are doing and it shows on this album. Each song has a little explanation that Brooks wrote, which gives the album a nice personal touch. Brooks has been through some rough spots in life and is not afraid to talk about it, or sing about it, on this album. He has been energized with a clean slate to take off into what he wants to do, and he is doing it.

There is a lot of Gospel in the Soul of Danny Brooks. He is coming out of the school of Solomon Burke, Sam and Dave, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, and the Soul singers of the 1960s. He delves into those sounds with full conviction and a true respect for these musicians. He wants to remember these artists, gone the way of Otis Redding or here with us like Bobby Bland.

The band gets into grooves that would make James Brown start shakin' on the floor. This is a tough unit that can push out some smokin' Soul or soothing night songs. From the horns to the keys to the guitar, this album doesn't waste any notes. The backing vocals support Brooks beautifully. I know I already said it, but the positive sound just grabs you and holds on. With so many negatives coming from the mass media, this has good vibrations all over it.

Any fan of 1960's Soul that is looking for something new to get into should take a listen here. Danny Brooks is very confident with his vocals and uses them well. His supporting cast is on the same page and telling the same story. The songwriting is good and the liner notes give you perspective on each song's lyrics. Let Danny Brooks rock your house soon.

Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax
                            Read more...
                        

                            
BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO, © JANUARY, 2006

I guess being blown away by DANNY BROOKS & THE ROCKIN' REVELATORS is becoming an annual thing. They did it to me last year with "SOULED OUT 'N' SANCTIFIED" and once again this year with "ROCK THIS HOUSE".

The Revelators, enough of them you could also call them a congregation, are: DANNY BROOKS on Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar & Harmonica; DENNIS PINHORN on Bass; BUCKY BERGER on Drums; RICHARD BELL on B3, Piano, Wirlitzur & Horn Arrangements; PAPA JOHN KING & TEDDY LEONARD on Guitar; ED ZANKOWSKI & PAUL COUSEE on Saxophones; JOE ALLEN on Trumpet; GARY CRAIG on Percussion; DOUG ROMANOW on Synthesizer & Accordion; With JOHN KAYS, STEVE AMBROSE, HIRAM HOSEPH, AMOY LEVY & JULIA CHURCHILL on Vocals.

The thirteen tracks on "ROCK THIS HOUSE" are all DANNY BROOKS originals and they are his signature mix of Rockin', Soulful, Spiritual, Gospel and Blues boogies, ballads, shuffles and hymns. I will now take on the unenviable task of naming just a few of my favorites.

"ROCK THIS HOUSE" explodes open with "CAN'T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN FOR LONG". Although it is not the title track, this one indeed rocks the house. Everyone's at the top of their game here. The background singers are hot, the rhythm section is smoking and the piano player is setting off the sprinkler system - whoa! It's tracks like this you wish you could see done live.

"HOLD ON" is a soulful, sixties sounding ballad that also makes reference to several singers and songs of the era. This one would even have Sam Cooke smilin' and swayin'. Danny, as he does on just about every song, sings his heart out on this one. The songs he writes are so compatible to his powerful and soulful voice. One of many tracks with excellent background vocals as well.

The title track, "ROCK THIS HOUSE" should really be called "ROCK THIS HOUSE, AGAIN", 'cause as I said, the opening track already did that and this one takes over right where that one left off. This time however, it's the B3 that RICHARD BELL'S beating up on.

"NEVER GO WRONG DOING RIGHT" is a shuffle that features some of BUCKY BERGER's best drum work. It's also one of the tracks that features some elusive blues guitar licks.

Unfortunately, due to self production and small budgets, this is one of those CD's that may not reach the masses.....to that I can only say "what a shame, everyone should get to hear this one"

You can visit Danny Brooks on the Web at: www.dannybrooksmusic.com/
                            Read more...
                        

                            
MAPLE BLUES MAGAZINE - John Valenteyn - After last year's Souled Out 'n Sanctified, this one was eagerly awaited. I was not disappointed. This is once again a magnificent journey through Southern Soul. The songs here are not as openly devotional, although that is never in doubt. The subject matter is on a more personal level. There is a larger horn sound but the songwriting is as sharp as ever - anyone who thinks the music of Memphis in the sixties and seventies is mined out needs to listen to this CD. "Hold On" is a good example: over a surging horn riff, Danny

reminisces over a long list of singers and songs from that era. If you liked "Soulsville" on that last CD, you'll love this one. The title song is a storming gospel soul song with the horns set against the choir and what a choir: John Mays, Steve Ambrose, Hiram Joseph, Amoy Levy and Julia Churchill all appear on various songs. "Good Love Is Hard To Find" is another `secular' song with a very catchy melody. "Unseen Hands" finds Danny in Howling Wolf mode warning us about the powerful who want to control our lives. "Tears from Heaven" is an impassioned plea for the poor. After those difficult topics it comes as a bit of a shock to hear an eloquent request for patience, but "It Takes A Little Time' has a great horn arrangement. Richard Bell is back as producer and arranger with assistance from Doug Romanow. It has taken Danny quite a while to get to this level of achievement and I hope it continues for a long time. -JV/ Maple Blues Magazine
                            Read more...