A saying tells us “everything old is new again.” You’ll find no better example than The Whole Shebang, the latest album by Austin band Charlie Faye and The Fayettes. This band has brought back the soulful pop sounds of groups like The Chiffons and Martha and The Vandellas.
There is a lot to love about the title track. First of all, you have to ask yourself when was the last time you heard the word shebang. Then you hear the melody, which is a call-and-response between the guitar and the organ. It doesn’t take long to get your head moving. Then you hear the vocals – both the lead and the backing vocals – and you can’t help but think that the song could have been recorded more than 50 years ago. After hearing this, don’t be surprised if you find yourself singing, “to me, to me, baby, you’re the whole shebang.”
While the whole album is retro, another good example is “Stone Cold Fox.” That’s just not a phrase you hear very often anymore. The instrumentation has a rockabilly sound and it’s easy to imagine guys with pompadours dancing with girls with Bettie Page haircuts when you hear this one. As always, BettySoo and Akina Adderley provide backing vocals that make this song even harder to resist.
The themes in all of these songs are familiar, from love being elementary (“1-2-3-4”) to making sure your lover knows he or she is loved (“Say Those Words”). Still, despite the familiarity, you can’t help but be drawn in by the way that Faye sings those themes. “That’s What New Love Is For” is another example of a familiar theme. With the saxophone and piano, this sounds like a song that could be featured in a movie that includes a 60s school dance. You can’t help but hear the ache for new love when Charlie sings, “I can’t seem to spark this flame. Maybe no one is to blame. That’s what new love is for.”
There isn’t any pretense in this album. This band unabashedly produces a soulful bubblegum sound that has been a staple on radio for more than 50 years. And you know something? You’d have to be pretty jaded if you don’t enjoy it.
