Billy Price’s star is rising. The Pittsburgh-based soul singer won a BMA for Best Soul Blues Album of 2015 when he collaborated with Otis Clay. Last year’s “Reckoning” received a BMA nomination for the same award. Dog Eat Dog should keep this streak of well-deserved acclaim going. Billy’s smart enough not to mess with a winning formula and so he returned to Kid Andersen’s now-famous Greaseland Studios in San Jose, CA. Not only that, they gathered many of the same players, mostly go-to folks for Andersen. Kid, of course, plays guitar and multiple instruments along with Alex Pettersen (drums), renowned Jerry Jemmot (bass), Jim Pugh (keys), Eric Spaulding (tenor sax), Jack Sanford (baritone sax), and John Halbleib (trumpet). Jon Otis (son of the great Johnny Otis) added congas as did Vicki Randle who sang background along Lisa Leuschner, Charlie Owen, and the Sons of the Soul Revivers gospel group.
While the core backing unit played on Reckoning, this one also features notable guests; harmonicist Rick Estrin, vocalist Alabama and Gulf Coast Records co-owner (along with Guy Hale), guitarist Mike Zito. The dozen songs contain eight Price originals. The album kicks in with “Working on Your Chain Gang,” co-written by Price and longtime collaborator, his keyboardist Jim Britton. They also wrote “Lose My Number,” “All Night Long Café,” and “Toxicity” (with contributions from Executive Producer Hale). Britton takes sole credit “Walk Back In” while Price teamed with another long-time collaborator French guitarist Fred Chapellier for the bluesy “Remnants” and deep soul “More Than I Needed.” The other original, “You Gotta Love” was written with Bill Trolani who helped write “Reckoning.”
This is horn-drenched sweaty blues and soul throughout, and few current singers do it better than Billy Price. Rick Estrin wrote the title track, where Price sings with Alabama Mike with Zito guesting on guitar and Estrin on the blues harp. The other covers are Bobby Byrd’s “We’re in Love” and the Otis Rush blues classic “My Love Will Never Die,” a staple of Price’s live shows that Andersen saw on a YouTube video and wanted to record in a new arrangement. It’s terrific. Interestingly, “Same Old Heartaches” was first recorded by The Impressions and written by Price’s friends, the songwriting team of Melvin and Mervin Steals, also known for writing “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” by The Spinners.
Price is certainly no newcomer. He’s been at since the ‘70s. This marks a total of 17 albums but, fortunately, in the past few years, he’s moved onto the national stage and receiving long-overdue accolades. He first attracted attention as the vocalist for the great, late guitarist Roy Buchanan with whom he recorded two albums. Since then he’s been the bandleader for The Keystone Rhythm Band, the Billy Price Band, and several solo projects. His debut with Gulf coast Records owes to his appearance on the Legendary Blues Cruise and subsequent conversations with Zito and Hale who learned that Price wanted to make another album with Andersen. Of course, they were fans, dating back to Roy Buchanan, the Otis Clay collaboration, and the most recent Reckoning. Hale couldn’t but ask if Price would consider doing it with Gulf Coast and received a surprising affirmation.
Billy Price is in good company in many respects. There are very few deep soul singers left. Thankfully Billy Price is still at the top of his game.
One Response
I can’t stop listening to this record unless a course I switch it out with Reckoning. Every song is so much fun to listen to. I have been a fan of Billy Price since the early eighties, his live shows are great & honestly these last 2 records are just top notch.