Tell Everybody! 21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound (2023) CD Review

Easy Eye Sound is an independent record label owned by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. It is a relatively new label, founded in 2017, though the Easy Eye Sound studio has been around longer. Artists such as Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, Robert Finley and, of course, The Black Keys have released albums on the label, and now a compilation of tracks has been released. Titled Tell Everybody! 21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound, this disc contains previously unreleased tracks from several artists delivering different types of the blues. This release was produced by Dan Auerbach, who performs on most of the tracks.

The disc opens with a track from RL Boyce, “Coal Black Mattie,” a cool number written by Ranie Burnette. RL Boyce, in addition to providing the vocal work, plays electric guitar. He is joined by both Kenny Brown and Dan Auerbach on guitar. Eric Deaton is on bass, Adam Schreiber is on drums, and Sam Bacco is on percussion. The track has something of a loose feel, which I love, reminding me of some 1960s recordings. That’s followed by the album’s title track, “Tell Everybody,” written and performed by Robert Finley. Kenny Brown and Dan Auerbach are again on electric guitar, with Eric Deaton again on bass and Sam Bacco again on percussion. This time Kinney Kimbrough is on drums, and Christy Johnson provides backing vocals.  “Tell everybody that the party is starting now,” Robert Finley sings early in the song. With a line like that, you might expect a fast-paced number, but this is a delicious, slow gem, easing us into the party. “If you want to have a good time/Come on out to the shack/‘Cause you’re gonna have the time of your life/And you might not ever go back.” Robert Finley has a new album coming out in late October titled Black Bayou (and no, this track is not on it).

“Tall Shadow” is an interesting track by the Moonrisers, a group made up of Libby DeCamp on dobro guitar and Adam Schreiber on drums and percussion. This instrumental track is one of only a few that Dan Auerbach does not perform on. DeCamp and Schreiber create an interesting atmosphere and mood, and this is a quietly compelling track. Then we get an original number by Dan Auerbach, “Every Chance I Get (I Want You In The Flesh).” It’s a perfect track to follow “Tall Shadow,” for it eases in, seemingly straight out of the other track, and its first moments are all about atmosphere. Then it kicks in with a rhythm that sounds like something from Norman Greenbaum or T. Rex, and Dan Auerbach gives us a cool, sexy vocal delivery. I also dig that lead on electric guitar halfway through. Dan Auerbach plays electric guitar, percussion and synthesizer on this track. Russ Fahl and Billy Sanford both play electric guitar on this track, and Dave Roe is on bass, Gene Chrisman is on drums, and Sam Bacco is on percussion. “Nothing’s gonna stop me/Acid rain or fire/Touch me and you got me/In the flames of your desire.” This track seems like it’s leading into a good jam as it begins its long fade-out.

“Catfish Blues” is a song that Jimmy “Duck” Holmes included on his 2019 album Cypress Grove. The recording on this compilation is a previously unreleased mono version. It features Dan Auerbach on electric guitar and percussion, Eric Deaton on bass, and Sam Bacco on drums and percussion. Gabe Carter has two songs on this compilation, the first being “Anything You Need,” in which he sings, “I want to please you, baby/Make you feel relief/I want to serve you, baby/Anything you need.” This track also features some really good guitar work. Gabe Carter, Kenny Brown and Dan Auerbach all play guitar on this one. And he offers one of those great blues promises: “Never quit me, baby/And I’ll be there for you.” That’s followed by “Willow Witchin’,” another track on which Dan Auerbach does not appear. This is a solo performance by Nat Myers on vocals and dobro. It’s an original song, though it has that great sound and appeal of a classic blues number. “Tell me, honey, where to dig my well/My water divining honey sure do cure dry spell.” This song also includes the word “dowser,” not a word I come across in very many songs. A different version of this song was made available to stream in 2021.

I love Leo Bud Welch’s story, as well as his music. He put out his first album, Sabougla Voices, when he was 81, and released a couple of other albums before he died in late 2017. A final album, titled The Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name, was released in early 2019. The song “Don’t Let The Devil Ride” was included on that final album. It is also included on this compilation, this track being a previously unreleased mono version. Dan Auerbach plays bass, electric guitar and percussion on this track. Leon Michels is on organ, Russ Fahl is on electric guitar, and Richard Swift plays drums. This one has something of a blues rock vibe. By the way, there is a documentary about Leo Bud Welch titled Late Blossom Blues: The Journey Of Leo “Bud” Welch. We then get a song from The Black Keys, “No Lovin’,” a seriously cool tune featuring an excellent electric guitar lead in the middle. “Got no lovin’ in my home.” Sam Bacco joins the duo on percussion, as he has done on the last couple of Black Keys albums. This song was written by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney.

Glenn Schwartz has two songs in this collection, both recorded back in 2016 and not released until now. The first is “Daughter Of Zion,” a track that features Joe Walsh joining him on electric guitar, in addition to Dan Auerbach. Dan Auerbach has mentioned that both he and Joe Walsh saw Glenn Schwartz perform in their formative years, that he had a tremendous impact on both of them, and so it’s wild that all three perform on this track. It helps that it’s a great song, written by Larry L. Hill and Glenn Schwartz, and originally recorded by Glenn Schwartz’s band The All Saved Freak Band in 1973. On this new version Leon Michels plays organ, Nick Movshon plays bass, Homer Steinweiss is on drums, and Sam Bacco is on percussion. This recording rocks, featuring a delicious bass line, and it is certainly a highlight of the disc. Glenn Schwartz died two years after making this recording. “Daughter Of Zion” is followed by the second Gabe Carter song, “Buffalo Road,” which has a cool, mean groove. Eric Deaton is on bass, Adam Schreiber is on drums, and Sam Bacco is on percussion. Gabe Carter, Kenny Brown and Dan Auerbach play electric guitar. This wonderful album then concludes with the second Glenn Schwartz song, “Collinwood Fire,” and here the approach is quite different from the first track of his. No Joe Walsh on this one, no Dan Auerbach, no anyone except Glenn on vocals and guitar. There is a bit of banter at the beginning as he picks the song. I love the loose vibe of this one. He even sniffles at a few points. Somehow that adds to the power of the song. What a great way to wrap up this compilation.

CD Track List

1. Coal Black Mattie – RL Boyce
2. Tell Everybody – Robert Finley
3. Tall Shadow – Moonrisers
4. Every Chance I Get (I Want You In The Flesh) – Dan Auerbach
5. Catfish Blues – Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
6. Anything You Need – Gabe Carter
7. Willow Witchin’ – Nat Myers
8. Don’t Let The Devil Ride – Leo Bud Welch
9. No Lovin’ – The Black Keys
10. Daughter Of Zion – Glenn Schwartz
11. Buffalo Road – Gabe Carter
12. Collinwood Fire – Glenn Schwartz

Tell Everybody! 21st Century Juke Joint Blues From Easy Eye Sound was released on August 11, 2023.