The album opens with “That’s My Girl,” a love song with a good dose of soul and a great cheerful vibe. “Now no one’s ever gonna tell me/That I have not somehow been blessed/I’ve got the sweetest piece of heaven/I adore that girl, I must confess,” Dave sings at the beginning of this one. What better feeling is there? I hope everyone is lucky enough to know just exactly what he’s talking about here. This track features some really nice touches on guitar, plus good work from the brass section that has an uplifting effect. “I’m going to hold onto this goddess/Even through life’s twists and curves.” Dave Rudolf then gets into delicious raw bluesy territory with “Practice What You Preach,” a track that features some great stuff by Al Joseph on violin. Yes, it’s a country blues number, and it’s about how the actions and opinions of certain folks who claim to be Christians are not in line with what is supposed to be Christian teachings. And that includes religious leaders, who put down entire groups of people in their fiery sermons. This is something that has been going on a long time, of course, but it seems to have become more prevalent, or at least more noticed, in recent years. “The bible I read taught forgiveness and grace/And the verses of love you seem to have misplaced/So practice what you preach.” And check out these lines: “If the Jesus you worship came back to this earth/Now you wouldn’t accept him for the country of his birth/He’s not as Caucasian as the pictures on your wall.” I like how Dave Rudolf tackles the problem directly. I also like how this song encourages kindness. And I love when the backing vocals join him on the title line. This is one of my favorite tracks. “You can thump on your bible, claim redemption is near/But if you’re talking about hate, it’s a message we won’t hear.”
“That Ship Has Sailed,” the album’s title track, is a
fun, hopping country number coming at us at a quick pace and featuring great
stuff on guitar and keys. At one point, the guitar dips a bit into a surf
style, which is cool. It’s for just a few seconds, but it’s a perfect example
of how Dave Rudolf mixes different elements to great effect. This track also
contains an excellent vocal performance, as well as some delicious backing
vocal work. That’s followed by “You’re My Home,” a pretty song with a heartfelt
vocal delivery. “When the world makes no
sense/I see you as a defense/I know I’m not alone/Because you’re my home.” The
idea of home is such an effective one in song. I’ve said it before, but I’ve
never heard a bad song titled “Home.” Somehow this subject brings out the best
in songwriters, perhaps because they are on the road so often. “You’re my home” is a phrase that Ellis
Paul used in his song titled “Home,” in the lines “This house is just an address/You’re my home.” When we really think
about what’s most important in life, it always comes down to love, doesn’t it? “You’re
My Home” is another of my personal favorites.
And speaking of love, “September Nights” is a love song. We can never have too many love songs. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “I’ve been thinking you’re the answer/To any question I could pose/Let me walk beside you/As the stars begin to light/Just the two of us together/On this fine September night.” Ah, yes. This track features some wonderful work on guitar. Then in “Something In The Water,” Dave sings, “There’s something in the water/That’s turning folks real mean.” Yeah, what is it? We can’t help but wonder what it is during that brief instrumental section after that line. Then he sings, “There’s no good explanation for the hatred that is there.” Dave Rudolf likens it to poison, which feels right. This track too contains some excellent work on guitar. Then some sweet work on pedal steel helps set the tone on “This Love Is Mine.” “When all is washed away, our hearts remain.” This is a beautiful song, one I appreciate more each time I listen to it.
“Promise To Deliver” has such a good vibe about it, and features the horns. It is in the rhythm and blues realm, with wonderful, soulful elements, particularly in the vocal performance. It also contains a good bass line. “I will be beside you/I’ll be your constant star.” I love that work on saxophone toward the end. Then “Days Of Yore” is about how some folks look to the past, wishing to return to a period that they now believe was without problems. Of course all times have had their challenges and troubles, but, hey, people’s memories are incredibly short. Some people today can’t even recall how terrible things were four years ago. Details are lost, and all that is there now is a feeling about the time. “It’s true that some had blessings/A Normal Rockwell life/And others were left just to struggle/Amidst a life of strife.” He sings with understanding, with sympathy for those folks who want to paint the past in brighter colors, and maybe that’s the way to reach them. There is some excellent guitar work at the end.
“Madeline” has a catchy pop rock vibe. It’s about troubles that an individual keeps hidden even from those closest to her. People often show only one face to the world, and so others often don’t know something is wrong. It’s understandable, because no one wishes to be a burden to others, and so folks refrain from reaching out. That’s followed by “Product Of His Pride,” which has a wonderful Spanish flavor, fitting for the song’s subject and location. That guitar work is fantastic, and this song also features some great stuff on pedal steel. “Every glance that she receives/Fans the flames of their desire/He can’t stand their rapt attention/Every gaze becomes a dare/In this dance of jealousy/It’s a slight he cannot bear.” This song tells a good tale, but it’s that guitar work that especially makes this one stand out. Then “When The Sun Breaks Through” is a positive number with a good vibe. “It’s been dark and grey and you’re feeling low/You’ve been trying hard, with not much to show/But there is always hope, always more that you can do/Lady luck will turn and she will smile on you/When the sun breaks through.” It feels like perhaps the sun is going to break through on this country in November and put an end to a culture of greed and hatred and deceit. “We must rise above/The skies are turning blue,” Dave sings here. Let’s hope certain key swing states turn blue too.
“He’s kind to everybody/He often is bemused/He doesn’t see why he is forced to choose/Because he’s happy,” Dave Rudolf sings in “Happy.” To a certain extent, one can determine his or her outlook, or at least take steps that direction. It’s a matter of how one reacts to everything around him or her. And that’s what this song is about. What I’ve learned, at least for myself, is that being constantly angry at the world doesn’t accomplish anything, and hurts only me. So I try to do the things that make me happy and keep the rest to a minimum. And, hey, there is a lot to be happy about, such as all the great music that is out there. “There’s problems all around us/Troubles waiting around the bend/Maybe look to find joy where we can/And we’ll be happy.” Among the many things taped to my refrigerator is this line from John Barrymore: “A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.” In “Regrets,” Dave Rudolf sings, “Regret is useless/We all have some/It just prevents you/From getting things done.” It’s true that we all have things we wish we’d done differently. Regretting is helpful only if you learn from whatever it is you would change, and make different choices in the present; otherwise, it is a waste of time. Thomas Linsk delivers some nice stuff on accordion.
Al Joseph delivers some warm and pretty work on violin on “Twilight Of Their Years,” helping to create the track’s tone. Though I don’t believe it’s the intention, this song makes me sad. Songs about aging, even when they offer a comforting viewpoint, have been hitting me lately, making me think of the inevitable loss that comes with getting older. You might not have that experience when listening to this pretty song. It might hit you differently. Dave Rudolf then ends the album with a rousing, energetic song, “What Goes Around, Comes Around,” which features the horn section. It’s a song about karma, something I don’t necessarily believe in. I do hope, however, that certain folks will suffer consequences for their terrible actions, “and that some justice is finally served.” But this is a playful number featuring some lively work on keys, as well as good rock and roll stuff on electric guitar.
CD Track List
- That’s My Girl
- Practice What You Preach
- That Ship Has Sailed
- You’re My Home
- September Nights
- Something In The Water
- This Love Of Mine
- Promise To Deliver
- Days Of Yore
- Madeline
- Product Of His Pride
- When The Sun Breaks Through
- Happy
- Regrets
- Twilight Of Their Years
- What Goes Around, Comes Around
That Ship Has Sailed was released on June 30, 2024.
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