Release date: Feb. 28, 2025
Alligator Records
By Greg Easterling
Tommy Castro/Photo: Laura Carbone
Tommy Castro is not an artist who does the same thing every time out. His recent Alligator Records releases have included two live records and a blues concept album that tells a story, 2021’s A Bluesman Comes To Town. And although he’s a skilled songwriter, his new release Closer To The Bone only includes four original songs from inside the band out of a total of fourteen on the album. Instead Castro has chosen to feature lesser known songs by a number of underappreciated but deserving blues artists, some with a personal connection to Castro. In his own words, “These are not the obvious artists people generally cover and that was most definitely on purpose.”
Castro does begin the album with an original, “Can’t Catch A Break”. It’s sort of his version of “Born Under A Bad Sign”, with “Bad luck and trouble, the story of my life. If luck was money. I wouldn’t have a buck to spare .” The arrangement calls for dynamic horns by Scott Jensen on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, and Jack Sanford on baritone sax. And Castro contributes the first of many effective guitar solos that permeate the album,
The second song,”The Way You Do” is the first of many covers and is originally by a guitarist who has been rated as one of the top guitarists of all time by both Rolling Stone and Mojo. Odds are though, you might not recognize Jimmy Nolen’s name. He was a longtime guitarist with James Brown and the JB’s, his “chicken scratch” sound heard on JB classics like “Cold Sweat” and “I Got You (I Feel Good)”. Castro has not forgotten: he picked a song from Nolen’s lesser known solo work apart from James Brown and also Johnny Otis. Rick Estrin joins in on harp, the first of two appearances on Closer To The Bone.
Next Castro salutes a former fellow bandmate and mentor, the late Jimmy “Nitro” Newton, with the compelling “One More Night.” Castro and Newton once played together in the Dynatones. Newton also supported Albert King and Albert Collins and his songs were covered by Collins and Tab Benoit. Lisa Andersen lends her voice here complementing Castro’s lead vocal.
Now it’s time for another original song co-written by Castro, the slow blues, “Crazy Woman Blues” with an especially soulful vocal from Tommy. At 5:25 it’s the longest song on the album recorded solely by the Painkillers with Mike Emerson on keyboards, Randy McDonald on bass and Bowen Brown on drums. Christoffer “Kid” Andersen co-wrote the song with Castro and Mark Albert. Andersen also produced, recorded and mixed Closer To The Bone at his highly regarded Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California.
The next song is a vintage selection written and recorded the first time around by
Chris Cain, “Woke Up And Smelled The Coffee”. It’s a faster, up tempo number about leaving a relationship. Castro and Cain are labelmates at Alligator these days and have mutual admiration for each other’s work. Endre Tarczy plays piano and “Kid” Andersen joins in on rhythm guitar.
“Keep Your Dog Inside” is a Mike Duke song and has a humorous feel to it which is always welcome on a blues song. Castro shines on resonator and Deanna Bogart makes a vocal appearance singing lead here, the first of several credits on this album. The Sons of Soul Revivers aka James and Dwayne Morgan also add some great backing vocals here.
Bogart returns with a notable tenor sax solo on “She Moves Me”, a great but lesser known number by Johnny “Guitar” Watson. He was well known for his guitar skills and flamboyant image which Watson claimed was a big influence on Jimi Hendrix. Watson was known for the funky “Ain’t That A Bitch” and “Gangster of Love”, the latter covered and much referenced by Steve Miller. Watson passed in 1996 but Castro revives his memory here with this prime cover.
We are over halfway through Closer To The Bone with another original Castro song, “Ain’t Worth the Heartache” highlighted by a guest shot from Billy Branch on harmonica. Mike Emerson’s piano helps drive this juke joint rocker along.Then it’s back to covers for most of the rest of this musical odyssey continuing with Ray Charles’ 1950 #1 R&B chart topper, “A Fool For You” for Atlantic Records. It’s classic Brother Ray with Chris Cain guesting on piano and the Sons of Soul Revivers supporting Castro’s lead vocals, which are especially fine on this slower, soulful number. This song was recorded before the label “Soul music” was coined in the next decade to describe the style pioneered by Atlantic.
“Freight Train (Let Me Ride)” is another Castro choice that recalls the author, veteran Oakland blues recording artist Ron Thompson. He recorded solo for Blind Pig Records and also backed John Lee Hooker in the 1970’s. Thompson passed in 2020. Castro’s slide guitar is a definite highlight here. Then it’s the final Painkillers original written and sung by bassist Randy McDonald. It’s great to have another writer in the band with this fast blues rocker featuring a “LaGrange” riff ala John Lee and ZZ Top.
“Bloodshot Eyes” is an unexpected pleasure here with its roots in the western swing genre pioneered by Bob Wills and the song’s author Hank Penny. But blues shouter Wynonie Harris had success with it in the early 1950’s, a prime example of the influence that country music and rhythm and blues sometimes had on each other. Castro handles the hybrid very well with his lead vocal and arrangement.
Chicago gets recognition from Castro for the legacy of guitarist Eddie Taylor who was the often unsung mastermind behind the once popular songs of Jimmy Reed. One of Eddie’s best known solo numbers is the oft-covered “Bad Boy”; Castro selected “Stroll Out West” for Closer To The Bone with another guest appearance from Rick Estrin on harmonica. Eddie died here in Chicago in 1985 and sadly his son Eddie Taylor, Jr. has also passed but the Taylor musical legacy lives on with his surviving offspring Delmark Recording artist Demetria Taylor plus singer/drummer Larry Taylor and vocalist Brenda Taylor.
The album concludes with an upbeat reading of “Hole In The Wall” written by famed Piedmont bluesman Brownie McGhee, who was renowned for his work with Sonny Terry. The Sons of the Soul Revivers lend their voices once more and Jim Pugh plays organ.
Castro succeeds with his original intention for Closer To The Bone. Again in his own words, “This is the deeper blues side of me. I know with these songs, I am at my most authentic.” Credit Alligator Records for supporting Castro’s musical mission once more.
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will perform on March 5, 2025 at SPACE in Evanston, IL
For more information, go to: https://www.tommycastro.com/
To stream or purchase the album: https://www.alligator.com/albums/Closer-To-The-Bone-CD/
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About the Author: Greg Easterling is a veteran Chicago radio air personality and media member of the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame. He is the host of American Backroads on WDCB, 90.9 FM in the Chicago area, Thursday nights at 9 p.m. Greg also a hosts Easterling Blues Experience on Buddy Guy Radio.