Andy Peake: “Pocket Change” (2024) CD Review

Though he had been performing for quite some time, drummer, singer and songwriter Andy Peake did not release his first album until 2021. Titled Mood Swings, this excellent album featured mostly original material. He is now following that with Pocket Change, which also contains mostly original material, much of it written or co-written by Andy Peake. The music has the blues running through it, no question, but is not strictly blues, Andy Peake being so adept at taking that feeling into other realms. And you can bet there are some good rhythms on these tracks. Joining him on this album are Will McFarlane on guitar and Paul Ossola on bass, along with plenty of guests on various tracks.

He opens the album with “As Good As It Gets,” which has a cool rhythm and features some nice work by special guest Tim Gartland on harmonica. Steve Eagon plays guitar on this one, and both Dave Abo and Bob Marinelli are on bass. “Well, I got a hot tip/I like my chances/It feels so right.” And this music feels so right. I especially like that great bluesy guitar lead in the middle of the track. “But if you close your heart you might not ever find what you’ve been looking for.” Things then get hopping with “The Scuffle,” particularly the work on keys. That’s Jody Nardone rocking the keys. This is one of those fun songs that mention some other musicians: “Now, ol’ Chuck Berry and Bonnie Raitt/They play it right, they don’t play it straight/They might take a turn, even jump the track/And then they head for home and bring it on back.”  Sam Broussard plays guitar on this track, and Shaun Murphy provides backing vocals, doing a great job as always. And there is a good bit of jamming at the end.

“Somebody’s Gotta Do It” is delicious soulful and funky number, written by Dan Penn. “Loving her is a full-time job, but somebody’s got to do it,” Andy sings here. And isn’t that the truth? And it’s a job we love more than any other, right? “Keeping her happy, that’s my desire.” Brad Guinn delivers some delightful work on saxophone, helping to give this track a classic vibe. This track also features some excellent work on guitar. John Cowan and Mindy M. Miller provide backing vocals. Andy Peake follows that with a cover of Jordan Chassan’s “One Fine Day,” a song from Chassan’s 1991 self-titled album. And Jordan Chassan plays guitar on this track, which is cool. “One fine day, one fine day/Mighty change is gonna come this way.” Oh yes, I think we’re ready for it, and having watched those speeches by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz today, I feel like that day is just three months away. It feels like an end to the darkness is coming, doesn’t it? This election should put a complete end to Trump. I love the friendly, compassionate vibe of this song. Jeff Taylor is on accordion, and Tom Britt is on guitar.

I was prepared to love “So Many Drummers” just from its title. And, yeah, it’s a fun one, with a great rhythm. “When I found rhythm, it chose me/I followed the beat, and it pointed the way/There were lessons to learn and dues to pay.” In addition to being largely about rhythm, about a career in drumming, it’s also about the brevity of life, something that is hitting me harder and harder these days. “And the past goes fast when there’s so little time.” There is some delicious drumming here. This track also features some great stuff by Jody Nardone on keys. That’s followed by “The Blues Is Here To Stay,” this one featuring some strong work on guitar right from the start. Both Terry Downing and Will McFarlane play guitar on this one, and both Al Hill and Phil Wolfe are on keys, and both Bob Marinelli and Dave Abdo are on bass. “The blues is getting bluer, the grey has gone away/It’s looking more and more like the blues is here to stay.” It’s a song about dealing with a love that has gone. “You left me in the darkness, ain’t nothing I can do.” The song has a fun rhythm, one you might find yourself dancing to.

The blues continue with “Neighbor To Neighbor,” a song that Andy Peake wrote with John Prestia, who plays guitar on this track. This is a song about the divisiveness of these crazy times. “I’m watching the news, remembering the years/Wondering how in the hell did we ever get here/Whatever happened to peace and love?” It comes down to love, as it always does, and there is the reminder that we have more in common than we have apart. The problem that many of us have now is that we feel some people are not deserving of love. How can we love someone who would support a rapist and racist for president? Seriously. This one too contains some good work on guitar. “We’re all on this planet, but not for too long/If we don’t get it right, it all will be gone.” Then “Samsong” is a fun track, coming at us like a good summer rock and roll number, with a bit of a Beatles flavor to some of the guitar work. The instrumental section at the beginning goes for like forty-five seconds before the vocals come in. This song is about a dog named Sam (thus, the title). “He can give me directions and read my mind/And tell me when someone is evil or kind.” Sam can be heard barking on this track, and the album is dedicated to him. Kenny Vaughan plays guitar on this track, and Andy Peake plays keys in addition to drums. This song was written by Andy Peake and Karen Leipziger. “He’s a lot more human than some people I know.”

The fun continues with “I Don’t Believe Nothin’,” which features some excellent stuff on keys. That’s Kevin McKendree on keyboards. “I don’t believe nothin’ that I don’t want to/The grass ain’t green, and the sky ain’t blue.” With those opening lines, the song’s point of view is clear. This is a playful song about the current state of the world, and specifically about those strange creatures who prefer “alternative facts” rather than actual facts. “I’d rather play it safe and just listen to lies/Because being too smart just ain’t being wise/And I don’t believe you’re gonna open my eyes/I’ve got me a date with Miss Information/She’s spreading her stuff all over the nation/Don’t confuse me with facts, I’ve made up my mind.” Those are great lyrics, and sadly they are spot-on with regards to a certain segment of the population. “But if you say it enough, I might just say it’s true.” Yup, terrifying but true, or terrifying because it’s true. This track also features some strong guitar work. James Pennebaker joins Will McFarlane on guitar on this one. Andy Peake then wraps up the album with a good cover of “You Left The Water Running,” written by Dan Penn, Rick Hall and Oscar Franks. This track features Steve Herrman on trumpet, and Brad Guinn on saxophone, their work adding to its bright vibe.

CD Track List

1. As Good As It Gets
2. The Scuffle
3. Somebody’s Gotta Do It
4. One Fine Day
5. So Many Drummers
6. The Blues Is Here To Stay
7. Neighbor To Neighbor
8. Samsong
9. I Don’t Believe Nothin’
10. You Left The Water Running

Pocket Change is scheduled to be released on September 20, 2024 on Big Little Records. By the way, I love the presence of the drum key instead of a car key on the album’s cover.