The story of Sugar Ray and The Bluetones is one for the screen, not for a print review. The band began in the late 70’s and has remained a force in deep, deep blues. The man named for those sweet, sweet vocals, Sugar Ray, has been the leader of The Bluestones crew for nearly forty years. Ray Norcia as a harp man and singer did a 1994 through 1997 stint as lead vocalist for Roomful of Blues and has collaborated and performed on albums with James Cotton, Michelle “Evil Gal” Wilson and Ronnie Earl. Sugar Ray & The Bluetones helped build a stronghold in the Northeast U.S. for the kind of blues that can’t be bought, it needs to be owned. The band can trace their blues blood back to Chicago for sound pedigree. Uptown blues, late night blues.
The sound of their latest effort, ‘Evening’ puts you in the club, close to the origins of the sounds you hear. As individuals The Bluetones are go-to sidemen and hold down individual careers. ‘Monster’ Mike Welch made a name for himself with his 1996 solo debut and has since notched seven releases; Michael “Mudcat” Ward on electric and upright bass, a longtime member of Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, has recorded with Sleepy LaBeef and Hubert Sumlin, the man on keys. Anthony Geraci, has performed with Ronnie Earl in his band as well as playing with Muddy Waters and drummer Neil Gouvin spreads his name across a number of recordings, also logging time with The Broadcasters. ‘Evening’ is Sugar Ray & The Bluetones fifth album on Severn Records, their seventh since their 1989 recording debut.
The tile track comes from the co-write pens of Harry White/Mitchell Parish and was originally recorded by T-Bone Walker. Sugar Ray leads you by the harp hand with a lonesome wail acting as the church bell that signals after dark. Raiding over piano trills and guitar riffs, the harmonica draws a blue shade on “Evening” as Sugar Ray sings a love letter to the night. There is a presence, an awareness in the playing
of the song, maybe that is why the effect of the album is to put you at a table, lit by a small candle flame, watching the blues play on the stage in front of you. You nod your head knowingly with memory triggers and sink into the sound of bluesmen doing what they do. Album opener, “I’m Having A Ball”, proudly struts the blues into the track line-up, using the Johnny Young story line as an intro description for a working band, “I’m having a ball, doing the dog at the union hall”. “Dear John” is written from a land where country and blues bed down, “Too Many Rules and Regulations” takes its time to declare rebellion for our daily dose of opinions and suggestions and “Hard to Get Along With” offers complete disclosure as first contact. Sometimes it is best to get the bad news out of the way.
Sugar Ray & The Bluetones are the blues. They are real because of time put in and the continuing tours; they live a blues life for the same reason. These guys need their own name, how about do-blues? The Bluetones plug in and there is nothing else that can come out of the speakers than Blues. That is just the way it is. For a complete discography and credits for Sugar Ray and The Bluetones check out their website, which hosts a long biography of the band with all the steps to today carefully chronicled and documented. Danny McCloskey
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