Various Artists – Back To Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute To Okie Music
Horton Records – 28 August 2020
“Twenty musicians, two engineers, four days and a lot of pinball”. According to the short promo video for this release, that is what it took for a group of distinguished contemporary Oklahoma musicians to recreate seventeen songs written by some of Tulsa’s most celebrated songwriters which range from the famous to the obscure. The resultant CD, Back To Paradise – A Tulsa Tribute To Okie Music, is truly an Oklahomage to be savoured.
Wind the clock back to the early 1970s and Leon Russell built 3 studios in Oklahoma. One of these, the Paradise Studio at Grand Lake in Tia Juana, incidentally designed by Roger Linn, inventor of the Linn drum, saw some of the biggest names in music history recording there. In addition to Russell, Bob Dylan, Bob Seeger, Phoebe Snow, J.J. Cale, Freddie King and the Gap Band graced its portals, as did George Harrison and Eric Clapton. In February of this year, the fabled studio saw recording take place once more, for the first time since 1978, thanks to the sterling work of Tulsan Rick Huskey, who has spent the last 30 years preserving and restoring the space.
Whilst the core band consisted of Paul Benjaman, Jesse Aycock, John Fullbright, Paddy Ryan, and Aaron Boehler, the musicians who participated in the project chose the songs for the album, which was made mostly as a “live in the studio” performance, with few overdubs, with production credited to Jason Weinheimer & Them Tulsa Boys. Whilst wheels are certainly not reinvented with what is presented, neither are the offerings mere museum pieces. Yes, due deference is paid to the pioneering greats of the Tulsa sound genre, such as Russell, J.J. Cale and Jesse Ed Davis, whose work is represented, but the sheer diversity of the mix of country, rockabilly, swamp rock, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, soul, gospel and blues sounds, which epitomises the style, provide for pleasant diversions around every corner.
The aforementioned Benjaman provides five tracks, and tastefully bookends the album with J.J. Cale’s I’ll Make Love To You Anytime and 1970’sMona Sweet Mona, from famed duo Teegarden & Van Winkle. The former, written by Cale and released in 1979 on his album 5 on Russell’s Shelter Records, might appear familiar as it was also recorded by Eric Clapton on his album Backless. Bluesy in feel, this infectious number kicks the collection off with great aplomb. Similarly, his version of Cale’s Ride Me High had me searching out my vinyl copy of the former’s 1987 Troubadour album to make comparisons. The chugging organ-led opening and husky sexy vocals of the original have been faithfully honoured here in an interpretation that has guitar and percussion meandering off in a jam-like fashion, in the most enjoyable of ways, for just over nine minutes.
An unexpected, but nonetheless welcome, treat sees Detroit born, but Tulsa-rooted, soul singer Branjae deliver a scorching version of Lovell Fulson’s1967 Tramp, whilst the instrumental introduction to The Gap Band’s I Yike It explodes with bass lines, thumping key chords and effect-laden guitar before the vocals of Charlie Redd, (Full Flava Kings), & Brianna Wright help pitch a funked-up version of the original 1974 Shelter label release that delivers on every level, and then some.
Grammy nominated John Fullbright, who some readers might recall from his first performance in London, a sell-out show at The Slaughtered Lamb, offers up three tracks, allowing him to display his undoubted talents. Firstly a glorious rendition of Crossing Over, a Steve Ripley gospel tune of the highest calibre, then, later in proceedings a further chance to showcase his vocals on both a Leon Russell song, the honky-tonk sounding If The Shoe Fits from Russell’s 1972 Carney album, and finally a Hoyt Axton classic too, Jealous Man, which here is extended to almost three times the length of the original 1976, thanks to the musicians rocking out midway through the song.
With Jesse Aycock, (Hard Working Americans, The Paul Benjaman Band), also contributing three songs, including the splendid Tulsa County written by Jesse Ed Davis, but here shorn of the original reggae-feel,and the soulful singing on Rock n Roll Gypsies the Gypsy Trips number. ‘Red-dirt’ style music is provided by Dustin Pittsley, in the shape of Blind Man, whilst the electric country twang of Cliff Beasley’s original 45rpm release, I’m Gonna Get To Tulsa is superbly replicated here by Jacob Tovar. It is left to Tulsa Music Awards 2020 Nominee, Sarah Frick, however, to provide one of the highlights on the release. Her version of the Dwight Twilley Band debut single of 1975, I’m On Fire rocks hard enough to blow the doors off the proverbial barn.
This release succeeds on several levels. As a document of contemporary Oklahoma musicians paying tribute to those who blazed the trail, it is both reverent and appropriate. As a showcase for the former, it reveals, or confirms, that there is talent a-plenty in the current music scene of the area. The possibly often over-looked genre of ‘Tulsa sound’ warrants a fresh listen, and there would be no better place to start than Back To Paradise – A Tulsa Tribute To Okie Music, available on CD, vinyl and digital, release date 28th August.
A word of recognition too for the record company Horton Records. Horton Records is a volunteer-based, non-profit Tulsa music organisation which not only develops and supports musicians in the Tulsa area but also enhances the local community, along with other creative partners, and builds upon the rich musical heritage in the region.
Out on 28 August. Order via Bandcamp (Digital/CD/Vinyl): https://hortonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-paradise-a-tulsa-tribute-to-okie-music
Visit Horton Records: http://www.hortonrecords.org/