Numerous songs from "Bald Guy With A Lot On His Mind" and "A Summer Day At Greaseland" featured on John "Blueshammer" Hammer's "Hammered By The Blues" Radio Program on March 18, 2022.

Included in Richard L'Hommedieu's "MIDNIGHT CIRCUS" podcast, for the month's of January and February 2022.  

 https://www.makingascene.org/live-from-the-midnight.../

Featured in ROOTSTIME.be,  a Belgium/Netherlands Blues and Roots music site. https://rootstime.be/CD%20REVIEUW/2022/FEB1/CD30.html

 Freddy Celis / Rootstime.be  Facebook

Review by Eric Schuurmans  11 February 2022

NEIL BARNES – A SUMMER DAY AT GREASELAND (45”, 2022) / BALD GUY WITH A LOT ON HIS MIND (2020) 

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Bar-B-Q Sound Recordings 

  

De in de San Francisco Bay wonende harpspeler Neil F. Barnes is een product van de sixties. Hij is beïnvloed door Paul Butterfield en Lee Oskar en is een grote fan van Charlie Musselwhite, bij wie hij privéles volgde. Zijn voornaamste leraar was echter de uitzonderlijk begaafde Gary Smith, de peetvader van de blues scene in de South Bay Area. 

Begin jaren '80 was Neil Barnes frontman van Bar-B-Que Barnes & The Rib-Tones. Zij traden op in de kelder van een club in San Jose (CA) waar van 1980 tot 1982 de  “Joshua's Blue Monday Parties” plaatsvonden. De Rib-Tones bestond uit Hap Scott (bas / zang), Larry Calley (lead gitaar), Robert (drums), Bob Gomes (B3) & Sid Morris (piano). Soms waren er ook gasten aanwezig als Sonny Lane, Johnny Waters, Francis Clay en Luther Tucker, die mee jamden en die op die avond voor de “extra’s” zorgden. Barnes geraakte er bevriend met Sonny Lane, met wie hij wel eens samen speelde. Verder werkte hij ook als akoestisch duo samen met gitarist Greg Hartman. 

In 1980 nam Barnes, onder zijn eigen label RibTone Records, een 45 toeren single op met twee eigen composities: “Blues for Breakfast"/"Close Call". Hij nam die op met Little Willie Littlefield als pianist, Ron Thompson als zanger en slide gitarist, Junior Watson als gitarist en met als ritmesectie Bill Stuve (bas) en Robert Montes (drums). Later volgen er nog meer albums met nog meer eigen werk en met een gewijzigde band. De nieuwkomers zijn Sonny Lane (gitaar), Bob Gomes (B3), Hap Scott (zang) en de legendarische Mark Naftalin (piano). 

Neil Barnes, die de microfoon schuwt, heeft het afgelopen decennium twee cd’s uitgebracht: ‘This Was Then Now’ (2012) en het goed ontvangen ‘Hyde and Seek’ (2014). Voor zijn laatste project ‘Hyde & Seek’ (2014) trok Neil Barnes naar de West Coast en vroeg er aan bevriende, gerespecteerde muzikanten om mee te doen met zijn sessies. Hij kon rekenen op Earl Thomas (zang), Lady Bianca (piano, zang), Rev. Paul Smith (Hammond B3), Ron Thompson (gitaar, zang), Oshmin Oden (bas) en Winfred Williams (drums). ‘Hyde & Seek’ bevat bewerkingen van songs van New Orléans’ veteraan Allen Toussaint en enkele (rock) gospel klassiekers. 

BALD GUY WITH A LOT ON HIS MIND (2020) 

Neil Barnes besteedde in zijn carrière altijd veel tijd achter de schermen als producer van werk voor andere artiesten. Hij haalde voor de opnames van zijn laatste full-lenght album ‘Bald Guy with a Lot on His Mind’ (2020) dat hij opnam met studio-tovenaars Kid Anderson (Greaseland Studio’s) en Big Jon Atkinson (Bigtone Studios en Hyde Park Studios) een all-star band, alles uit de kast. De line-up zat boordevol talent, waaronder de gitaristen Kid Andersen, Johnny Cat Soubrand (Terry Hanck Band) en Ron Thompson (1953-2020) in enkele van zijn laatste opnames, toetsenist Sid Morris (piano), bassist Mike Phillips, drummers June Core & Winfred Williams, zangeressen Lauren Halliwell & Lady Bianca, zangers Earl Thomas & Kyle Jester (Candye Kane). 

De tien nummers werden opgenomen in drie opnamestudio’s in Californie: zes met Christoffer “Kid” Andersen in de Greaseland Studio’s in San Jose, twee met Charlie Beutter in de Hyde Street Studio’s (beide) in San Francisco en twee bij Bigtone Records van Jon Atkinson in Hayward, CA. Het jazzy openingsnummer “Going to Greaseland” (ook gekend, o.w.v. de “ski-ervaring” tijdens de afdaling, als “Cruisin’ Down Crystal Ridge) werd opgenomen met “Kid” Andersen. Op dit nummer dat Barnes schreef met pianist Sid Morris, zijn ​​gitaristen Kid Andersen en Johnny Cat Soubrand, Sid Morris zelf, bassist Mike Phillips en drummer June Core te horen. Verder ook de vier tracks met zangeres Lauren Halliwell: “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” (voor het eerst opgenomen door Dinah Washington) - “Ophelia” van Robertson Jaime Robbie (The Band) met Andersen op gitaar - Ray Charles' “Funny But I Still Love You” met Andersen op een akoestische gitaar én met een geweldige  Halliwell & “Wait Wait Wait”, dat wordt toegeschreven aan Naomi Neville, een pseudoniem van Allen Toussaint. Ook Chuck Berry's instrumental “Deep Feeling” met uitstekende mondharmonica van Barnes en piano van Morris komt uit deze sessie. 

Twee nummers werden o.l.v. Barnes en co-producer Charlie Beutter in de Hyde Street Studio’s van Jon Atkinson opgenomen. Het eerste is een alternatieve versie van het gospelnummer “Rough Side of the Mountain” van dominee F.C. Barnes (die géén familie is van), met een vocaal duet tussen Earl Thomas en Lady Bianca, met Ron Thompson op gitaar & het rockende “Sugar Momma”, dat opgenomen werd nadat de sessie voorbij was, terwijl iedereen aan het “afbreken” was. Op de laatste zijn gitarist Thompson, drummer Winfred Williams en Barnes (zoals op alle tracks) op harp te horen. 

Nog twee Barnes’ originals werden opgenomen in Jon Atkinson's Bigtone Studio toen deze nog in Hayward (CA) gevestigd was. “Placerville Gold” is een nummer waarin het gaat over een coffeeshop die eigendom is van Barnes' vrouw Jill, gelegen in Placerville in de uitlopers van de Sierra Nevada. Het wordt gezongen door Kyle Jester. “Along Came the Blues”, het resterende nummer, is geïnspireerd door een documentaire van National Geographic over spinnen en hoe ze voor het grootste deel van ons leven veel dichterbij zijn dan je denkt: “blues is als een spin die overal om je heen kruipt, ik denk dat ze hier zijn om te blijven…”. 

A SUMMER DAY AT GREASELAND (45”) (2022) 

Iets voor de verzamelaars is de single ‘A Summer Day @ Greaseland’, die recent verscheen. Deze single bevat twee nummers: “Hatin’ on Love” & “See What I’m Sayin’”, beide geschreven door Barnes en Mighty Mike Schermer, die hier zelf ook de gitaar omhangt. Schermer’s leven veranderde als hij in 1984 met een optreden van de “Master of The Telecaster” Albert Collins. Dit was de muziek die hij altijd al gezocht had. Van Collins, met wie hij bevriend geraakte, kreeg hij het advies zich te verdiepen in de muziek van T-Bone Walker. Mike werd aangetrokken door harmonicaspeler Andy Santana, om samen met drummer June Core en bassist Steve Ehrmann een band The Soul Drivers te vormen. Met de band backten ze Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Luther Tucker, Snooky Pryor, Elvin Bishop en Tommy Castro. The Soul Drivers werd de tour band van Angela Strehli. 

Neil Barnes mag hier verder rekenen op Kid Andersen (bas), Dennis Dove (drums, zang), Chris Burns (piano, clavinet, Fender Rhodes), & Lisa Leuschner Andersen (zang). 

“Again top releases by veteran and harpist Neil Barnes who was in excellent company!…” (ESC for Rootstime) 

Eric Schuurmans 

  

10 cd's te winnen! 

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De winnaars worden per mail verwittigd. 

Album tracklist BALD GUY WITH A LOT ON HIS MIND (2020):01. Going to Greaseland (aka Cruisin’ Down Crystal Ridge)* [w/Sid Morris] – 02. I Don’t Hurt Anymore* [Don Robertson, Walter E. Rollins, Anne rachel] – 03. Rough Side of the Mountain** [Rev. F.C. Barnes] – 04. Sugar Momma** [Ron Thompson, Carolyn Phillips] – 05. Ophelia* [Robertson Jaime Robbie] – 06. Deep Feeling* [Chuck Berry] – 07. Placerville Gold** – 08. Wait Wait Wait* [Allen Toussaint] – 09. Funny But I Still Love You* [Ray Charles] – 10. Along Came the Blues** | Music/Lyrics by: N. Barnes, w/ or as [noted] © 2020 | *: Greaseland Studio’s, San Jose, CA, w/Christoffer Andersen - **: Atkinson Studio’s, San Francisco, CA, w/Charlie Beutter) | Produced by: Neil Barnes & Kid Andersen* / Charlie Beutter** | Album credits: Neil Barnes: harmonica (1-10), feat. Sid Morris: piano (1,2,5,8-10), Lauren Halliwell (2,5,8,9), Ron Thompson: guitar (3,4), Kyle Jester: vocs (7,10) / With: (1,6): Kid Andersen & Johnny Cat Soubrand: guitar, June Core: drums & Mike Phillips: bass - (2,5,8,9): Kid Anderson: guitar, Vance Ehlers: bass & Robi Bean Drums - (3): Earl Thomas: vocs, Lady Bianca: vocs, piano, Paul Smith: Hammond B3, Winfrid Williams: drums & Oshmin O. Oden: bass – (4): Winfrid Williams: drums - (7,10): Jon Atkinson: guitar, JUde Core: drums & Mike Phillips: bass  

Album tracklist A SUMMER DAY @ GREASELAND (2022): 01. Hatin’ on Love - 02. See What I’m Sayin’ | Music/Lyrics by: N. Barnes & Mike Schermer © 2021 | Produced by: Mike Schermer & Christoffer Lund Andersen | Album credits: (01): Mike Schermer: guitar, vocs / Kid Andersen: bass / Chris Burns: piano / Dennis Dove: drums / Neil Barnes: harmonica – (02): Dennis Dove:  drums, lead vocs / Mike Schermer:  slide guitar / Kid Andersen: bass / Chris Burns: piano, clavinet, Fender Rhodes / Lisa Leuschner Andersen: bvs / Neil Barnes: harmonica 

Discography NEIL BARNES: A Summerday @ Greaseland (45”), feat. Mighty Mike Schermer, Kid Andersen… [2022] | Bald Guy With a Lot on his Mind [2020] | I Don’t Hurt Anymore (single), feat. Kid Andersen, Sid Morris, Neil Barnes, Vance Ehlers & Robi Bean [2019] | Bigtone Records Session [2017] | Greaseland Session [2016] | Hyde and Seek [2014] | This Was Than Now (includes both: the 45 and EP Sessions, Tracks 1-6 + Greg Hartman, Neil Barnes:  Live on KKUP, 12/1981) [2012] || Bad Dog Rock ‘n’ Blues: South Bay Collection Vol. II (compilation) [1999] |  Ron Thompson Digital 45, feat. Neil “BarBQ” Barnes: harmonica [?] | This Was Then, Now, Bar-B-Q Barnes & Friends – feat. Little Willie Littlefield, Ron Thompson, Bill Stuve, Mike “JR” Watson, Sonny Lane, Luther Tucker, Francis Clay  & Johnny Waters (a collection of studio & live recordings) [1985] | Bar-B-Q Barnes & Friends (compilation, includes both the 45 and Sessions EP) [1981] | EP Session (EP,4#), Bar-B-Q Barnes & the Ribtones [1981] | “Blues for Breakfast”/”Close Call” (no longer available as 45” single, but available on the ‘This Was Then, Now’), feat. Little Willie Littlefield, Ron Thompson, Junior Watson & Bill Stuve [1980] |

 

Interview with Richard L'Hommedieu, for "Making A Scene!"  on-line indie music page.

Date: 21 March 2021

 https://www.makingascene.org/neil-barnes-is-making-a-scene/

Also included in Richard L'Hommedieu's "MIDNIGHT CIRCUS" podcast, for the month's of February and March 2021. 

 https://www.makingascene.org/live-from-the-midnight.../

 

"MAKING A SCENE"  February 16, 2021 

Review: Richard Ludmerer

Neil Barnes - Bald Guy With A Lot On His Mind

Bar-B-Q Sound Recordings 

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Neil Barnes is a harmonica player strongly influenced by Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, Charlie Musselwhite and Lee Oscar.  He was able to hangout, up close and personal, and witness Freddie King, Albert King and Albert Collins. During the 1980’s he formed his own band “Bar-B-Q Barnes and the Rib Tones”, and recorded a single and a follow-up EP. He has shared the stage with Francis Clay and Luther Tucker; and recorded with keyboardists Little Willie Littlefield, Bob Gomes and Mark Naftalin; guitarists Ron Thompson, Junior Watson and Sonny Lane; bassist Bill Stuve, and drummer Robert Montes. As a producer Barnes is most noted for his 2014 project “Hyde and Seek” featuring Earl Thomas; Lady Bianca, and former John Lee Hooker bandleader Thompson. He has also produced a single for Lady Bianca, and just released this new project. 

The ten tracks are broken down by recording studio. Recorded by producers Kid Andersen and Neil Barnes at Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose is the jazzy opening track “Going To Greaseland (a.k.a Cruisin’ Down Crystal Ridge)”.  Barnes states that the elation of driving to the session is comparable with the exhilaration of skiing down the slope at Nevada’s Crystal Ridge. Featured on this Barnes’ original are guitarists Andersen, and Johnny Cat Soubrand; pianist Sid Morris; bassist Mike Phillips, and drummer June Core. A second song recorded during the same session is Chuck Berry’s instrumental “Deep Feeling” with some outstanding harmonica from Barnes, and piano from Morris. 

Also recorded at Greaseland are four more tracks featuring vocalist Lauren Halliwell. Included are “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” first recorded by Dinah Washington; The Band’s “Ophelia” with Andersen on guitar; Ray Charles’ “Funny But I Still Love You” featuring pianist Morris and Andersen on an acoustic; and my favorite “Wait, Wait, Wait”. The latter is credited to Naomi Neville, a pseudonym used by Allen Toussaint, and was learned from Tracy Nelson as the song appears on Mother Earth’s 1969 album “Make A Joyful Noise”. Halliwell is wonderful on these, while Barnes playa some sweet harmonica. 

Produced by Barnes and Charlie Beutter are two songs recorded at the Hyde Street Studios, and left off of that 2014 project. The first is an alternate take on the gospel tune “Rough Side of The Mountain” written by the Reverend F.C. Barnes (no relation), and featuring a vocal duet between Earl Thomas and Lady Bianca with Thompson added on guitar; and the rockin’ “Sugar Mama” recorded after the session was over while everyone was “breaking down” and heading home. Featured on the latter are guitarist Thompson, drummer Winfred Williams, and Barnes once again blowin’ harp. 

Two more Barnes songs were recorded at Jon Atkinson’s Bigtone Studio when it was still located in Hayward Ca. “Placerville Gold” is about a coffee shop owned by Barnes’ wife Jill, located in the Gold Rush town of Placerville in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and is sung by Kyle Jester; and “Along Came The Blues” inspired by a National Geographic documentary on spiders and how for most of our lives they’re a lot closer than you think “blues is like a spider crawling all around you, I think they’re here to stay”. 

This is another well produced recording from Barnes which can comfortably sit alongside 2014’s “Hyde and Seek”. Might as well check them both out. 

Richard Ludmerer

 

Vintage Guitar Magazine  February, 2021

Review: Dan Forte

Neil Barnes - Bald Guy With A Lot On His Mind

Blues harpist Barnes has been a mover and shaker in the San Francisco scene since recording his first single in 1980. But most of his energy has been to champion other artists, and this CD is no exception. 

Every cut has his stamp and vision, but as a strictly instrumental performer he taps five vocalists across the bulk of the album, all benefitting from sensitive and soulful accompaniment courtesy Barnes and a raft of superb Bay Area talent. 

The repertoire ranges from Ray Charles to the Band, including Chuck Berry’s “Deep Feeling” converted from steel guitar instrumental to harmonica vehicle. Barnes was particularly close to the late Ron Thompson, and the guitarist backs Earl Thomas and Lady Bianca on a romping gospel number and takes center stage on “Sugar Momma,” sporting Barnes’ best harp playing. 

On the instrumental “Going To Greaseland,” penned by Barnes and pianist Sid Morris, guitarists Kid Andersen and Johnny Cat Soubrand alternate sweet and gritty solos. Andersen, of Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, also adds sting as Lauren Halliwell belts Dinah Washington’s “I Don’t Hurt Anymore.” And fellow flame-keeper Jon Atkinson provides guitar on two Barnes originals. 

Call it a compilation or a party; it’s a mighty fine time. – Dan Forte

 

DELTA GROOVE MUSIC   19 November 2020

Jeff Scott Fleanor

My thanks to Bay Area blues harmonica veteran Neil Barnes for sharing his latest CD with me. Though our friendship is new, his music was already known to me (much to his surprise), as I own his previous release, “This Was Then, Now,” a compilation featuring his early ‘80s output recorded under the moniker Bar-B-Q Barnes and the Rib-Tones. Neil found his initial inspiration and direction on harmonica courtesy of Bay Area blues legends Gary Smith and Charlie Musselwhite and proudly carries the West Coast harp tradition forward on “Bald Guy with a Lot on His Mind,” which enlists the talents of Chris "Kid" Andersen, Ron Thompson, Big Jon Atkinson, Johnny Cat Soubrand, Kyle Jester, Sid Morris, June Core and Earl Thomas among others. Bravo to you my friend and much success with your latest endeavor!

 

BLUES BLAST MAGAZINE   Issue 14-38   September 17, 2020

Review: Marty Gunther

Neil Barnes – Bald Guy with a Lot on His Mind 

Bar-B-Q Sound Recordings BBQSR 2020 

10 songs – 45 minutes 

www.neilbarnesmusic.com 

San Francisco-based harp player Neil Barnes pulls out all the stops for his latest CD, enlisting the services of studio wizards Kid Anderson and Big Jon Atkinson and assembling an all-star lineup to deliver a set of the tastiest West Coast blues you’ll hear this year. 

A product of the ‘60s influenced by Paul Butterfield and Lee Oskar, he was so enamored of the playing of Charlie Musselwhite that he caught as many of his shows as he could and then actually took a private lesson from him after getting up the courage to ask for one. His primary teacher, however, was the exceptionally gifted Gary Smith, the godfather of the South Bay Area blues scene. 

He’s has been a recording artist since fronting the band Bar-B-Que Barnes and the Rib-Tones in the early ‘80s, a group that gigged with San Francisco stalwarts Johnny Waters and Sonny Lane and recorded 45s with keyboard player Little Willie Littlefield, the first man ever to record “Kansas City,” as well as guitarists Ron Thompson and Junior Watson and bassist Bill Stuve, the longtime member of Rod Piazza’s band. A self-titled EP followed a few years later before Barnes began working in an acoustic duo. 

A deserving, but under-recorded artist who shies away from the microphone, Neil’s released two CDs in the past decade, This Was Then Now in 2012 and the well-received Hyde and Seek in 2014, an album that featured contributions from soul/gospel superstar Earl Thomas and Lady Bianca, a veteran of Sly & the Family Stone and Van Morrison, on vocals. 

Barnes has devoted most of his time behind the scenes producing works for other artists — most recently a digital gospel release for Lady Bianca, but this one was recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios, Big Jon Atkinson’s at Bigtone Studios and Hyde Park Studios. Both Thomas and Lady B. return on vocals along with the sultry Lauren Halliwell and former Candye Kane guitarist Kyle Jester. 

The lineup’s chockful of talent, including Johnny Cat Soubrand (Terry Hanck Band), Andersen, Atkinson and Thompson in some of his final recordings on guitar, Sid Morris, Lady B. and Paul Smith on keyboards, June Core, Winfred Williams and Robi Bean on drums, Mike Phillips, Oshmin O. Oden and Vance Elhers on bass. 

Propelled by a funky bass line from Phillips, the sweet, original instrumental “Going to Greaseland (aka Cruisin’ Down Crystal Ridge)” swings from the jump to open with Morris leading the action on keys and Barnes providing harp accents before Soubrand and Andersen trade licks as they join the action. Halliwell rich alto debuts for the first time on a stellar, blues-drenched, unhurried cover of Dinah Washington’s “I Don’t Hurt Anymore.” 

Lady B. and Thomas take charge on the mic — sharing vocals with Bianca on keys — for the gospel-tinged “Rough Side of the Mountain” – the first of two consecutive previously tunes that went unreleased after the Hide and Seeksessions. She’s aided by Thompson’s low-end runs on six-string. He adds an interesting, minor-key lead in “Sugar Mamma,” next. It’s a stripped-down blues in which Neil’s harp skills shine accompanied only by drums. 

Halliwell’s back in charge for a full-bore blues redo of The Band’s “Ophelia” before an instrumental take on Chuck Berry’s “Deep Feeling.” Once the B-side to “School Day,” Barnes is front and center on this one, delivering powerful single-note runs. His original, “Placerville Gold,” which follows with Jester at the mic, draws its inspiration from Neil’s wife, who once owned a coffee shop in town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. 

“Wait, Wait, Wait” – a tune first recorded by Tracy Nelson when she was a member of Mother Earth in the ‘60s – follows before a take on Ray Charles’ “Funny but I Still Love You” with Halliwell more than holding her own on both. The disc concludes with Jester delivering the original, “Along Came the Blues,” a down-to-earth reminder that no matter how good things are going right now, they could change in a heartbeat. 

Like Hide and Seek six years ago, Bald Guy with a Lot on His Mind is a pleaser on all counts and a welcome addition to any blues lover’s collection. 

Blues Blast Magazine Senior writer Marty Gunther has lived a blessed life. Now based out of Charlotte, N.C., his first experience with live music came at the feet of the first generation of blues legends at the Newport Folk Festivals in the 1960s. A former member of the Chicago blues community, he’s a professional journalist and blues harmonica player who co-founded the Nucklebusters, one of the hardest working bands in South Florida.

BLUES JUNCTION  "RECOMMENDED LISTENING"   September 16, 2020   Review:  David Mac

 RECOMMENDED LISTENING

Welcome to the September edition of our Recommended Listening feature. Here we offer up for your consideration eight new and soon to be released CDs. Thanks to our regular contributors Charlie Lange and Jeff Scott Fleenor for giving me a hand with some of these new releases.

NEIL BARNES: A BALD GUY WITH A LOT ON HIS MIND

 The man who used to perform under the alliterative sobriquet of B-B-Q Barnes and led a band called the Rib-Tones is still cooking.  The latest release by veteran bay area harmonica player and songwriter Neil Barnes is a collection of songs recorded at three separate locations over the past few years. Traditional blues grooves are featured on this fine release. Highlights include the instrumentals, two of which were recorded at Jon Atkinson’s Big Tone Studios when those facilities were based in the east bay. Six of the album's ten tracks were produced by Kid Andersen and recorded at his Greaseland Studios in San Jose. Andersen also mixed and mastered the two numbers recorded by Atkinson. His indelible prints are all over Bald Guy with a Lot on his Mind. Other album highlights include the two tracks recorded at the Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. These feature the guitar of Ron Thompson. The recently departed blues man sings on one of these tunes, a Thompson original entitled Sugar Mama. Bald Guy… has a great supporting cast. However, the star turns out to be the tasteful, understated harmonica stylings of Barnes. His playing is restrained and therefore effective. He never gets in the way of the song or the vocalists who deliver their missives with the clarity one would expect from some well written originals and carefully curated covers.  Bald Guy with a Lot on his Mind is Barnes’ finest album in several years. - D.M.