Selecting a running order for the presentation of over a dozen songs requires careful planning. McDonald chose to make a bold start with the provocative tune “On Your Life’s Road,” urging everyone to “stand up for something,” with his guitar mirroring his call. He follows with fancy finger picking on the T Bone classic “Blue Mood,” then rolls into the swinging sonnet “I Can’t Stop The Love.” The shimmering chords of “Take My Hand” conjures up images of The Allman and Bellamy Brothers in 70’s prime. The bittersweet ”Spirit In The Night” pays tribute to a lost loved one, who visits him in dreamland, while he paints a further vivid picture of his affections on the ardent song of love “I Need You.”
The fun loving “A Girl Like You” could have been a hit during the Doo Wop group era, and McDonald rips out flashy flamenco licks during the sizzling rebuke, “The Next Time.” The slinky twelve bar blues “That’s How I Want Our Love,” spells out his affection in detail, and the furtive plea in a minor key “Make Love Not War,” is so very timely in these turbulent years. The loving tribute, “Blue Morning Sun,” fulfills the last wish of a dear friend, who is immortalized in this song. Closing out the dozen acoustic tracks is the apocryphal tome “I Had A Dream,” that finds McDonald playing out his fears for the world while clinging to a sliver of hope.
The album shifts gears for two bonus tracks beginning with the fiery “Misery And Blues,” that features ripping lead guitar and harmonica solos in front of a six-piece band. McDonald returns to acoustic guitar for the driving “Wish I May,” backed by a hot trio of bass, drums and swampy B3, then closes the album with a sweet reading of a vaudeville blues standard “Trouble In Mind.”
It has been five years since the last release from Forrest McDonald, but for his fans Songs From My Soul makes it worth the wait.Rick J Bowen
BIOGRAPHY
Originally from Austin, Texas, Forrest McDonald’s career began 6 decades ago and has spawned dozens of recordings and international acclaim. Now based in Richmond, VA, music critics consider the veteran musician to be one of the great blues performers and songwriters of our day. His music career began at the age of fifteen in Rhode Island, where his family then resided. He gained a regional reputation in The Ox Bow Incidents, and he was a prime member of The Boston Rock Symphony with longtime friend James Montgomery, performing a fusion of rock and classical to audiences throughout New England. At the age of twenty, he toured with Wadsworth.
Forrest moved to Los Angeles and reformed Wadsworth Mansion into the band Slingshot, playing gigs at The Whiskey and The Starwood on the Sunset strip. At this time, he also worked with Bonnie Bramlett, Kathi McDonald, and Jimmie Reed Jr. He and Raymond Victor formed their own band which performed all over California and toured Asia with the USO. During those years Forrest recorded with Tony Carey (Rainbow, Planet P) and Steve Perry (Journey) Their collaboration can be heard on I Need You, Forrest’s debut CD. During the same period, Forrest studied at the Guitar Institute of Technology and at the Dick Grove Music Workshops (Studio City, CA).
Forrest's subsequent move to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, gave him the opportunity to work with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, backing such artists as Bob Seger and Bobby Womack. His guitar solo can be heard on the enduring hit, "Old Time Rock and Roll". Real Blues Magazine awarded the title of “Best Southern Blues Band” to Forrest McDonald and the 3D Blues Band for 1999, 2000, and 2001. In 1999 he received the Just Plain Folks Music Award for Best Blues Album for Spirit of the Blues. The song “Work, Work,” appearing on What’s It Gonna Take? was voted Best Blues Song in 2000 by Just Plain Folks. Out of 65,000 entries in 2006 his song Going Back To Memphis also won Blues song of the year.
WEBLINKS
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aTlo3mzxIxTImCZkRuKTs?si=535c1e89c1fb46e7
NOTE TO RADIO ~ FOCUS TRACKS
- On Your Life’s Road, 2. Blue Mood, 11. Blue Morning Sun, 13. Misery And Blues
More Information: Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com
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