'Bend in the Road' is the latest CD release from JEREMY SPENCER, the noted slide guitarist, who is probably best known as one of the first guitarists in Fleetwood Mac, along with Peter Green. Back then, Jeremy cited Elmore James as one of his major influences. Some forty years on, that is still the case, as there are a couple of Elmore James covers on the album, and Jeremy certainly does them justice.
Opening with 'Homesick', a blues laid down by Homesick James (who was actually born James Williamson, and was Elmore James' cousin) in 1952, this is an excellent start to the album, with Spencer's slide guitar playing to the fore. A faithful cover, Jeremy packs a punch into the lyrics: “I'm so darn homesick again, I don't know what to do. Homesick again, I don't know what to do/ Think about my wife and my little baby, and I get so lonesome and blue.”
Straight after this is a cover of Elmore's 'Cry For Me Baby', however there is almost a rockabilly or rock 'n' roll style to the guitar lines, that adds a new dimension to the song.
There are a couple of instrumentals on the album, notably 'Whispering Fields' which is basically a country blues track, and 'Aphrodite', which Jeremy first worked on back in 1979. This is a guitar and piano based track with Greek influences, which make it something of an oddity on this album.
Jeremy also indulges in his love of 1950s rock 'n' roll, with 'Earthquake',inspired by Eddie Cochran's 'Nervous Breakdown', which was first recorded as far back as 1958. Whilst you can get the musical similarities, Jeremy's lyrics refer to his experiences of an earthquake back in 1981: - “Well we'd just gettin started to get a little party rockin on the thirty fifth floor/ When all of a sudden I thought I felt a shudder and my feet started slidin 'cross the floor.”
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The main credit, however, must go to the title track of the album, a lovely country blues that is based upon a poem by someone named Praveen. The lyrics, which are absolutely great, and follow the don't give up theme so popular in songs like R.E.M.s 'Everybody Hurts': - “When you feel you have nothing left to give, And it seems like the song has ended/ And it seems there's no reason left to live, As the darkness of night has descended...A voice will whisper “wait until tomorrow, this heartbreak is only a bend in the road.”
Overall, this was a really good listen, with some great blues (covers and originals) and some mighty fine rock 'n' roll, which makes it a worthy addition to anyone's collection.
Jeremy Spencer online
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