The Steve Hill Trio has put together a seriously terrific blues album, complete with impressive musicianship and great songwriting ability.  Clever, catchy lyrics.  They prove that they can write as well as they play.
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And the award for best title for a blues album goes to...envelope please?  The Steve Hill Trio and (Whatever Happened To) Playing For The Love Of Music !?  Applause!  Well folks, not only do they have a great title for the album, oddly enough, they have a great album!  Three dudes. Steve Hill, who aside from having the Trio named for him, also handles guitar, vocals and harmonica.  Come to think of it, maybe that's why they named the Trio for him.  George Presley, Elvis's brother, on drums and percussion.  Okay, maybe not Elvis's brother.  Maybe a 3rd cousin or something.  Steve Evans on bass and keys.  These guys have all been playing for years and by the sound of things, they know what they are doing.  Not only that, they are a fantastic group!

Fifteen original tracks.  You heard me cowboy.  All original songs.  Steve Hill is a rocking good songwriter and all of his tunes are witty, catchy and best of all - praiseworthy.  Check out my personal favorite tracks "Stir Your Sugar," and "I Ain't Gonna Jump Through No More Hoops."  Every song has a great energy about it and the Trio seems well adept at not only lighting the fire but also keeping it going.  Check out the blazing guitar funk on display on the smoking track "The Dog In Me".  And no, it's not about whatever it is you are thinking.  Great solos.  Great beats.  Check out "Video Game Baby" or "Trouble Coming Down".  The album is loaded with great tunes that really showcase how good these guys are.  The one big thing I take away from this disc is a great sense that these guys really dig what they are doing.  It shows in the work.  There is a tremendous sense of fun in their work and it's infectious.

So try something new.  Pick up the Trio.  You'll be glad you did.
- Bill Fountain
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I have been listening since the J. B. Strut days and was an avid follower back then.   Thank goodness for CDs so I can keep up with the new stuff!   I listened to this CD 3 or 4 times in a row and I can't find one thing I don't like.  As usual everything is great!  The songs are all different and not the same old run of the mill stuff.   I loved it!
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Many strong songs, few weak ones.   Good Job. It kept sounding better though the louder I played it.   It definitely cuts through which is the opposite of the most common mistake in blues records.  No mush here.   
 
"Cut Me Some Slack" and "Things You Get Used To" are killer tough.   And I especially liked the nice twist of ending the compilation with a twist, the acoustified, "Trouble Coming Down". 

The Steve Hill Trio are tighter than a Scottish bookie.  And the inside cover art made me laugh like hell.   Perhaps it should have been on the front?  The mix of facial expressions is terrific.
 
Top-Notch Home Grown electric Blues with a wicked sense of humor.  

stephen smith
winners records
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