Rab McCullough

Rab McCullough - Belfast Blues - 2001 - Blue Storm Music

Pete Brown, Cream lyricist and one of Blue Storm Music’s advisors, says, "the thing about Rab that is quite interesting is that you give him a song and he comes up with a take on it that you might not have thought of." Belfast Blues, was awarded the Best Foreign Release of a Blues Record by the Canadian magazine, Real Blues. The great Irish bluesman, Rab McCullough from Northern Ireland, is not a household name to many blues fans, and amazingly, many Irish blues followers are unaware of his existence. Yet, the guy has played a vital roll in keeping the blues scene alive in Ireland for decades. This short album/EP gives a good idea of Rab's talents, and is dedicated to the late, great Irish blues giant, Rory Gallagher. If you can find it, buy Rab's "Belfast Breakdown" album

TRACKS

1) Louisiana Woman
2) Walkin' Back to You
3) Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool
4) Trouble
5) Mistreatin' Me
6) Shame On You
7) Further Up The Line

All songs composed by Rab McCullough

MUSICIANS

Rab McCullough (Guitar), (Vocals)
Tim Tindell, Chris Jefferson, Bill Foster (Bass)
Mike Lattrell, (Hammond Organ, Piano)
Damon Duwhite, Adie McIlduff (Drums)
Crispin Cioe (Sax (Alto), (Sax (Baritone)
Arno Hecht (Sax (Tenor)
Laurence Etkin (Trumpet)
Bob Funk (Trombone)

REVIEWS

Rab's recent appearance on Dick Heckstall-Smith's "Blues And Beyond" alongside key players of the major blues league is a telling example of his abilities. Now he comes up with his own product, a long-overdue album from one of the Irish best guitarists, who could challenge the great late Rory Gallagher these recordings are dedicated to, if only left Eyreland for the big world back in early 70's. Maybe, it's a case of an age that McCullough keeps his cool where Rory was walking on hot coals, yet blues is like a wine: the older the better. So the only wrong thing about "Belfast Blues" is playing time ticking in under 32 minutes. The stronger the impact then. It hits you right away, when "Louisiana Woman" kicks in in TASTE-like trio format quickening the pace towards a chorus. Sparse guitar lines across solid bass bedrock work for an authentic Delta drift, dreamy and humid, crawling and biting. Piano splashes boogie-ing into "Walkin' Back To You", arresting Muddy-way but easy, effortless from the unpretentious yet convincing vocals to blistering slide solo. A jaunty ride, which grinds to a halt to be dissolved in "Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool", a Hammond-tinctured crying blues many would attribute to another Irishman, Gary Moore. Close indeed, as both are indebted to Peter Green, and this one sound like a new chapter to "A Fool No More". Less captive comes "Trouble", too brass-shiny with THE UPTOWN HORNS doing their best, while B.B. King's jazzy trick doesn't work here with all the scat applied. Back on the rocky track for bouncy "Mistreatin' Me" - that feels better, especially when guitar layers overlap on solo, lick over riff. A reggae beat of "Shame On You" makes the song the most catchy and outstanding moment of the album, poignant and powerful and hard not to love. If you don't, shame on you. Get familiar hook and go then "Further Up The Line". Not a remake of "Further On Up The Road", it's as simple as it gets to rock on, kicking the blues dirt. Traditional but revelatory © http://dmme.net/reviews/reviews14.html

We normally think of the blues as homegrown from the American South, but no culture knows the feelings like the Irish, which makes veteran blues rocker McCullough an interesting study in the way the genre transcends cultures. He's shared stages with Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall, and Small Faces, and returned to Memphis in 2000 to compete in the Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge; he came in third, but this powerhouse of a recording sounds like the makings of first place. Kind of skimpy at seven tracks and only 31 minutes, the recording still captures various exciting facets of his chosen genre. The brooding opening number, "Louisiana Woman," inexplicably finds his voice distant and distorted, but perhaps the mystery is intentional; his raspy voice combines with simple but powerful chord changes that keep getting faster. "Walkin' Back to You" is a fiery boogie-woogie-driven blues jam, with McCullough singing urgently as his blistering lines sizzle underneath. "Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool" is laid-back cool in the Eric Clapton tradition, while "Mistreatin' Me" is a pointed emotional jam fueled by the heavy organ harmonies of Mike Lattrell. A lot of what passes for blues these days comes in shimmering production packages, but this hits a cut above by being real, rougher, and raw. © Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

ABOUT RAB MCCULLOUGH

Rab McCullough was an active contributor in the 60s and 70s when the blues baby came of age, sharing stage with his peers, who went on to be Rock 'n' Roll legends, including Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, ACDC and John Mayall and The Blues Breakers. Unfortunately, the violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland put an end to Rab's career and destroyed the once great music scene. Rab stopped touring and remained in war torn Belfast to support and protect his family. The wheel of time has turned from the 60s through the 90s, but in Belfast, time stood still. For Rab, these were the dark days. His soulful interpretation of the music is rooted in his hard, often painful life, while living in Belfast, a city that exists as an equally suitable home of the blues. As the 90s dawned, so did the some small rays of hope, and with it an end to troubles in Northern Ireland. Fortunately, Rab was able to turn his harsh experiences into a magic potion of hope through the blues. As his music matured and deepened, he never stopped writing, playing continually perfecting his tone. and developing his style for his re-emergence in the world of music. The tough streets of Belfast would help mould and ultimately redefine his vital style. A musician's journey of rediscovery starts with the rediscovery of himself and in 1998 Rab traveled to the home of the blues, Memphis Tennessee, where he performed at the famed Beale Street Music Festival. Rab earned immediate respect as a world class player from blues enthusiasts and musicians, including sidemen of Chuck Berry and the late great Muddy Waters. His performance in Memphis by all accounts was in of the most intense ever witnessed at the festival. This proved to be the catalyst for Rab to resume the career that he thought he had lost forever. Rab's story began another chapter with the turn of the new millennium in 2000 when he returned to Memphis to compete in the Blues Foundations, world famous International Blues Challenge. Rab took a trophy back to Belfast and left his name on the tongues of everyone that witnessed the blistering performance. The success in Memphis resulted in invitations to major blues festivals and a record contract with Eagle-Rock / Blue Storm Records. This led to Rab's release of Belfast Blues which received rave reviews in Canada and the US Real Blues Magazine voted Belfast Blues " record of the year" Blues Revue Magazine quotes "Rab McCullough is a great blues guitarist and vocalist who deserves much more attention". In 2001, Cream lyricist / producer Pete Brown approached Rab, and asked him to be part of an all star British Blues line up including such greats as John Mayall, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Peter Green and Dick Heck-stall Smith. Rab recorded 5 tracks on the record Blues and Beyond. In 2002, the record was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. Rab McCullough continues to move forward to the next chapter of his life after the signing of a record contract with Dixie Frog Records. He is set the release the album Belfast Breakdown to the world in July 0f 2003. His collaboration with artists such as Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf). Nickie Scott (Van Morrison), Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan) and Tony Beard (Jeff Beck) help make this record a masterpiece. It would have been a tragedy for this legendary player to be lost but it would have paled next to losing his family. Rab McCullough chose the noble role of a father, and his reward, and ours is the re-emergence of a great talent with his family intact. Rab McCullough is a vital new force on the scene. His irresistible combination of Irish and American blues is helping to redefine contemporary blues music. © 2008 Slim Blues. All rights reserved

MORE ABOUT RAB MCCULLOUGH

Rab McCullough was an active contributor in the 60's and 70's when the blues baby came of age, sharing stages with his peers who went on to be Rock & Roll legends including Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayall & The Blues Breakers. Unfortunately, the violence and political unrest in Northern Ireland put an end to Rab's career and destroyed the once great music scene. Rab stopped touring and remained in Belfast picking up a job as a steel scaffolder to keep his family. A musician's journey of rediscovery starts with the rediscovery of himself. In 1998 Rab traveled to Memphis, Tennessee- the home of the blues, where he performed at the famed Beale Street Music Festival. Rab earned immediate respect as a world class player from blues enthusiasts and musicians alike, including sidemen of Chuck Berry and the late great Muddy Waters. © http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=2409177910&ShowSims=Y