CD Review: Fallin' For Rhonda's New CD

At the risk of repeating myself, Rhonda McDaniel is one rockin' blues mama who just keeps getting better and better. She's got a brand new self-titled CD being released July 18 on KHP Records and her many fans are going to love it. The CD, her first, is a mix of shag tunes, blues and a ballad or three.

"Putting out a CD has been a longtime dream of mine . . . it's just something I wanted for myself," Rhonda explained to me. "I was trying to reach a lot of different people. I hope the songs I chose were versatile enough, but I picked songs that I love to sing."

Track one is a "I'm On Your Side," a mellow bluesy piece by L.A. singer/songwriter Kevin Moore (aka Keb' Mo') that Rhonda has amped up a bit. "Walking After Midnight," the famous Patsy Cline tune is next. Rhonda's been singing this for years in her live shows, and makes it her own.

Track three, "Left With a Broken Heart," is an obscure R&B tune penned by Marv Johnson and released by the Four Tops on their 1964 self-titled LP. Next is "Good Thing," written by Levi Crawford, keyboard player and vocalist with the R&B group, Fat Jack Band. He also played keyboard, guitar, bass and sang backup on the recording. "I was honored," Rhonda says, "when Levi called me to tell me about this song."

Track five, Rhonda's hit song "Why Am I Crying" was one of the top four during Spring SOS 2007 and spent five weeks at 1 on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart. In fact, it's still charting.

"I just wanted to sing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,'" said Rhonda of track six. "I've always loved that song and I just wanted it on my CD." As with her other covers, Rhonda makes it her own.

We jump now from Harold Arlen to Jim Quick. Track seven, penned by Jim, "Is My Mind Playing Tricks On Me," is classic Quick. "I had gone to see Coastline," Rhonda told me, "and outside in the parking lot, Casey [Meyer] was strummin' his guitar and Jim was slappin' his leg, giving me lyrics ... and it took a little over a year, but I had a Jim Quick song." Listen closely, you'll hear Quick, Casey, Albert Rogers and Sam Bryant doin' their stuff.

Number eight is Rhonda's 2006 CBMA Blues Song of the Year, "You Got What It Takes." This funky, R&B tune from Southern soulman Joe Tex takes on a definite blues bent in Rhonda's hands.

Next comes what possibly may be my favorite track, "Talk To Me," written by Kelley Hunt, a contemporary singer/songwriter/ keyboard player from Kansas City. After two different DJs sent her the song, she went with it. Rhonda does a great job with this sweet and bluesy tune.

Track ten is "Stop Look and Listen," the duet with Rickey Godfrey that was released on the Keep On Shaggin' compilation. Something different for both vocalists, this one is definitely shaggable.

"Fallin'," Rhonda's current release from the KHP compilation, Coast to Coast – Let's Dance, is track 11. It's currently charting at 27 on Hook's Beach Music Top 40.
"Tom Polzin, president of the National Association of R&B DJs sent me this one, and it's been getting a lot of attention, " Rhonda said.

Finishing the CD are two covers, "Me and Bobby McGee," a dance version which was included in shorter form on Locals 2, the 2007 CBMA Compilation of the Year and "At Last," the Mack Gordon/Harry Warren song synonymous with Etta James.

I think Rhonda did a great job, especially for her freshman effort. I wish there had been a few more surprises on the disc. (She had already released several of the tracks on compilations, and four are well-known covers.) But her straight-from-the-gut voice and unique styling makes this well worth adding to your beach or blues collection. We'll be hearing a lot more from her, I'm sure.

Rhonda is sure one busy girl. Besides pursuing a solo career, she's been with BrassTyme, the high-energy McCormick, SC group, for over 16 years and continues to play with them. Her oldest brother, Mike Hill, bass guitarist for the group, is one of her major influences. While still a teenager, she toured all around the country with him in Amarilla, a country/Southern rock/variety band.

Plus, she recently joined forces with Bobby Simmons and Tony Kennedy – previously with the Rickey Godfrey Band– to form Freshwater, a variety trio that runs the gamut from beach & boogie to pop and blues.

Rhonda McDaniel will be at the beach this weekend (July 18 - 19, 2008) promoting her CD. Friday night, she's booked with the Southern Soul Series at the O.D. Beach Club with Part Time Party Time Band. You can also catch her Friday afternoon at HOTO's with Ray Scott of 94.9 The Surf as he broadcasts live.

If you're wondering what's next for Rhonda McDaniel, she's too busy to think that far ahead. But Julian Fowler of Ripete Records, who has been coordinating the Southern Soul Summer Series with KHP, tells me her next CD will be Rhonda Sings the Blues. That's great news for Rhonda's blues fans.
Rhonda's website
Rhonda's MySpace Page

CD Review: Got It Bad For The Holiday Band

Genre: Beach & Boogie

For the past week or so, I've had Got It Bad For You, the Holiday Band's latest, playing in the car. According to lead vocalist, Mike Taylor, "We set out to produce a real Carolina beach music CD ... with that shag feel ..." And that's exactly what this is.

Six of the ten tracks are receiving regular radio play on the beach stations, so you'll be singing along as soon as you pop the CD in the player. Three of the tracks are in the top 20 of Craig Fleming's Smokin' 45.

Released on Ripete Records in April, it's not what I'd consider a true concept CD, more like a compilation. In fact, Mike Taylor told me they like to take sort of a shotgun approach and see what works. For Holiday Band fans, this'll be right on target.

Got It Bad features three original tunes by Mike Taylor and/or Duane Neese and seven other offerings. In a telephone interview, Mike said, "I'd like to get back to more songwriting. I write a lot by mysel, but I find working with another lyricist takes me in new directions, which is good.

"What I like about working with Duane is that he's both a good musician and lyricist. We've written some for the Castaways and may do work for some others, too."

Duane Neese's "Motor Under the Hood," is the CD's first track and features Duane on lead vocals. It's a funny, bluesy tune about ... well, it's a guy thang. And, while it's already a terrific live tune, the radio version is getting a very strong response, too. By the way, Mark Black is playing saxophone on this one.

The title tune, "Got It Bad," is a Neese-Taylor collaboration with Mike on lead vocals. It's just climbed to number 20 on Craig Fleming's Smokin' 45, (Read on for the other two).

The duo wrote the third original, "Do You Really Love Me" for bass player Doug Neese to sing. "It's got a Caribbean feel, but more subtle, without all the steel drums and vibes," says Mike.

Mike Neese takes the lead on Chris Rea's "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," which is proving to be a favorite with shaggers. Arrangement is by Mike Neese and Mike Taylor.

The very popular "Rabbit Got the Gun" is also on the CD. This recording was Mike Taylor's first vocal after having vocal surgery. It was a great choice, and if you've heard him perform "Rabbit" live, you know the voice keeps getting better and better. Guest performers for this track include Ronnie Waters on guitar and Randy Gilkie on piano.

These next two are my two favorite tracks on the album: "I Know It's Hard But It's Fair" features Mike Taylor on lead vocals and really showcases the solid vocal harmonies of this group. The R&B tune was written by guitarist/songwriter Lowman Pauling of the 5 Royales. I love this studio version.

"There's No Getting Over Me," with Duane on lead vocals, was written by Tom Brasfield, with music by Walt Aldridge, and originally performed by Ronnie Milsap. Again, a solid recording.

"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone," from the Motown machine of Holland-Dozier-Holland features Mike Neese on lead vocal, and at number 18, is the third track to chart in the top 20 of the Smokin' 45.

The two final tracks include the Paul McCartney tune "Only One More Kiss," with Mike Neese on vocals and the gospel number, "Rough Side of the Mountain," with Mike Taylor and Shonda English on vocals.

The CD was recorded at Studio East in Charlotte with Tim Eaton and Mark Stallings and at Bradley House with Fred Shaw and Curtis Carpenter.

The Holiday Band is a tight, talented group of musicians who have been playing together for years. The group actually formed in 1991 when sound man Alan Brantley (now with Hip Pocket) was backing Gary Brown on a CD. The experience was positive for both and evolved into the original Holiday Band, which worked part time, playing mostly private gigs. Mike Neese was in this original group. Mike Taylor joined in 1992. At that time, David Franks (Band of Oz) was playing keyboards and Tommy Rogers (The Inmen) was the drummer.

In 1999 the group's Shotgun Boogie CD took off and the Holiday Band began playing more shows. In 2003, the Holiday Band took home Group Album (Southern Soul Revue), Song of the Year (I'm Man Enough"), Songwriter of the Year (Mike Taylor for "I'm Man Enough") and Group of the Year.

Current drummer Bill Ward has been with the band for 13 years. Bass player Doug Neese (Mike's cousin and Duane's brother) joined 12 years ago. Saxman Mark Payne signed up 10 years ago. Duane Neese, lead vocalist who also plays horn, joined the group in 2006. He's the new kid.
Holiday Band Website

CD Review: Rick Strickland "Island Soul"

Genre: Beach Music/Soul

Man, I like Rick Strickland. He is one talented guy. He recently sent me a copy of his newest CD and then called to talk to me about it. Island Soul was released on KHP Records on April 5, along with all the other "just in time for SOS" singles and discs. He had a CD release party at JB Pivots in Charleston. "We tried something a little different," he said, "and played the whole album during the first set. I was a little nervous about it, but there were several standing ovations during the set and the dance floor was packed."

Rick, who worked with Todd Rundgren earlier in his career and considers him a mentor, went on to tell me that he felt this was a "60s soul kind of record. It's as if Marvin Gaye, the Stylistics and the Beach Boys got together and made a record." There are 12 tracks on this CD, all written, produced, arranged, engineered and mixed by Rick Strickland. In fact, except for Art Benton ..boards, it's Rick playing all instruments and handling all background vocals.That's a lot of hats.

Track One is "Bubba White's." According to Rick, it's in the vein of "The Devil Made Me Do It" or "She Can't Fix Grits." And except for an intro that I suspect DJs will cut, it's a great dance tune and I can see it filling the floor.

"Love the Night Away," Track Two, which is the one Rick likes the best, is something smooth, something kind of mellow (oh sorry, just entertaining myself here). Next up is "I'm Happy," and although this is another intro I'm not nuts about, it's got a good solid shag groove.

Track Four is "Best Love," a pure cha cha as far as I'm concerned. "I Need Some Money" is loads of fun and I think it'll be a great live number for Rick. Track Six, "So Do I," may be my favorite. It's a sweet ballad that really showcases Rick's voice along with his songwriting skills. "Your Love Is My Rock" is another really emotional piece, with a shag beat that should keep people out on the floor.

Track Eight is "Winner," a smoothie that again demonstrates Rick Strickland's immense vocal talents. A bit of trivia here, Rick wrote that one back in 1974.

"Nice While It Lasted" is up next, and it's classic Rick Strickland – smooth and mellow with some really sweet harmonies. For me, however, it invites comparison to "Something Smooth," but doesn't quite measure up. I've often wondered ... once you've done "Something Smooth," what do you do next? (Yes, I know ... "One Step Closer,") but "Something Smooth" was something wonderful. Tough to top.

"Together We'll Find a Way," with its nice lilting melody is Track Ten. "I Don't Wanna Know" is one I'd expect to get a lot of radio play. The final track is "Bad Situation," which, in a word, is ... funky. A second word would be fun.