CD of the Week: BOOKER T "Sound The Alarm"
Written by Admin on June 30, 2013
Booker T will follow back-to-back GRAMMY wins for his previous two albums with ‘Sound The Alarm’ out June 28th via Stax Records/Universal Music NZ. This marks Booker’s return to Stax, a label revered for the gritty soul sound he helped create with Memphis’ first integrated band in the early ‘60s, and features collaborations with some of thefinest talents in modern soul and R&B including Mayer Hawthorne, Anthony Hamilton, Vintage Trouble, Estelle, Gary Clark, Jr., Luke James and more.
‘Sound The Alarm’ is a celebration of the past, present and future of R&B with flares of hip-hop bravado on the title track with Mayer Hawthorne and “Gently” with Anthony Hamilton, plus an explosive performance from Vintage Trouble’s Ty Taylor on “Your Love Is No Love.” Booker’s B3 is front and center, especially on instrumentals “Feel Good,” “Austin City Blues” with Gary Clark, Jr. and “Fun,” a joyous, pulsing jam. “Watch You Sleeping” features Bill Withers’ daughter Kori on a vocal duet with Booker, and an instrumental with his son Ted on guitar on “Father Son Blues” closes the album.
Booker T wrote or co-wrote all twelve songs on ‘Sound The Alarm.’ He co-produced the album with brothers Bobby Ross and Issiah “IZ” Avila, who have worked with Usher and Mary J. Blige. The Avila brothers also play in the rhythm section on most of the tracks.
Booker T has won 4 GRAMMY Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As a producer, he has helmed sessions for million sellers including Bill Withers’ debut album ‘Just As I Am,’ and Willie Nelson’s ‘Stardust.’ He’s written and/or played on some of the most enduring songs of all time including “Green Onions,” “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” and “Born Under A Bad Sign.”
CD GIVEAWAYS on Base FM Breakfast (weekdays 7-10am) and The Boil Up (Thursday 8-10pm)
Thanks to Universal Music NZ