Award-winning guitarist Duke Robillard has garnered two Grammy nominations and countless BMAs in his forty-plus year career. It’s always exciting to learn what project he’ll take on next because he’s anything but predictable. Ear Worms is another installment in this musicologist’s catalog that for simplicity will be labeled “blues” while it could just as easily be labeled “pop” or “early rock n’ roll.” That’s because many of these songs made an impression on Robillard growing up in his pre-teen years, before he even knew what the blues was all about. These are songs he couldn’t get out of his head, for better or worse, so he took them to the recording studio, rounding them out with a few others.
Robillard does only one vocal but his guitars thankfully grace every tune as he’s backed by his long-standing band: Bruce Bears (piano, B3), Brad Hallen (upright and electric bass), and Mark Texiera (drums). Bears and Texeira each take a vocal turn amidst a vocal lineup of guests that include Chris Cole, Sunny Crownover, Mark Cutler, Julie Grant, Dave Howard and Klem Klimek. Some of these tunes are familiar (“I Am a Lonesome Hobo,” “Yellow Moon,” “Yes We Can”) but most are not. They cross several genres and could only be gathered in one set like this by someone like Robillard who is so well versed in multiple styles.
Robillard begins with his own rocking “Don’t Bother Trying to Steal Her Love” with Dave Howard on vocal and then sings on the next one, “On This Side of Goodbye,” a Gerry Goffin/Carole King tune. The latter tune’s arrangement was inspired by Eric Burdon’s version and features a Baxter Hall guitar solo. He tells an interesting story about “Everyday I Have to Cry Some,” written by Arthur Alexander and performed by Steve Alaimo and Dusty Springfield. Duke knew of an English singer named Julie Grant who recorded the song in the ‘60s. He found that was working in a casino in nearby Connecticut, asked her if she would record. With her affirmation, dinner, and some wine, the relationship formed, and Duke was able to team Julie Grant and Sunny Crownover (a long-time Robillard cohort) together for the tune.
As you probably know, Robillard is also a major producer. This repertoire owes to that side as well as he tends to favor certain production values and sounds on recordings. Many songs go back to the days of AM radio and Duke’s brother’s 45rpm collection. “Living with the Animals” was originally done by Mother Earth with vocalist Tracy Nelson. Boston vocalist Chris Cole takes his turn on this one. “Careless Love” is a traditional tune that Robillard started out arranging like the W.C. Handy version but it morphed into his own style. “I Am a Lonesome Hobo,” the Dylan tune, is led by New England vocalist/guitarist Mark Cutler. Interestingly, Robillard played in Dylan’s band for a tour or two so it’s not surprising to see a Dylan cut here.
”Sweet Nothin’s” has Sunny Crownover channeling Brenda Lee. ”Soldier of Love” is another Arthur Alexander tune, done as several others, totally instrumentally. “Dear Dad” is a Chuck Berry tune where Klem Klimek delivers the spirited vocal. Then Robillard takes us to NOLA with Bruce Bears singing on Lee Dorsey’s “Yes We Can” with Robillard channeling Albert Collins on one axe against a funky wah wah on the other. Texeira is at the mic for the Neville Brothers’ “Yellow Moon.” “Rawhide,” the instrumental, naturally nods to Link Wray and the closer “You Belong to Me” has Robillard’s guitar conversing with Bears’ B3 for a tune that was a hit for both Jo Stafford and Patti Page in the ‘60s.
This is so different, with Robillard’s deft feel and creative touches, encompassing an era when music was much simpler, that it stands apart from anything in Duke’s catalog. Surprisingly, it’s one of his best recordings.
