0
0
The deliberate pace and emotion of rural southern blues is giving way to a quick, contemporary music style brought on by the innovation of the electric guitar. Hence, the birth of “rhythm and blues.” The year is 1950 and Tyrone “Pine Top” Purvis, the owner and pianist of the Honeydripper Lounge in Harmony Alabama, is resistant to this musical evolution. Unfortunately, the paying public is dancing to this new energy, so his club remains empty, and he’s hurting financially. Adding to the tension is that Purvis’ wife Delilah struggles to reconcile the spiritual (gospel) to the secular (blues).
The Honeydripper soundtrack lives up to the fabulous film, as it is an expressive tribute to American music — fifteen songs featuring rural southern blues, with gospel and country sprinkled in, eventually evolving into early Rhythm and Blues.
The CD starts out with tunes mostly from the late 1940’s. Blues vocalist Mabel John, soulfully delivers a heartfelt version of Tampa Red’s “No Matter How She Done It.”
Keb’ Mo’ belts out the folk classic “Stack O Lee.” Gospel lovers will enjoy “Standing By The Highway” and “You Got to Choose” by New Beginnings Ministry. Actor Danny Glover hands us an emotional rendition of the classic “Goin’ Down Slow.”
Some cuts on the CD are performed by original artists, such as Memphis Slim’s
“Bertha Mae;” and you’ll definitely recall the country classic “Move it on Over” by
Hank Williams.
By cut eleven, we’re moving into pre-Chuck Berry Rock ‘n’ Roll performed by the magnetic 19-year old Texas guitarist and vocalist, Gary Clark, Jr. He starts out with “Good Rockin’ Tonight” on electric guitar accompanied by sax and harmonica. This was a standard performed in the late 1940’s by Roy Brown and later by Wynonie Harris. While you’ll remember “Blue Light Boogie,” previously recorded by various
artists such as Jellyroll, Louis Jordan and Taj Mahal, Clark captivates us with his
own authentic rendition. What makes this soundtrack special is that these aren’t
just updated versions of the classics. They are played with the tonal quality that
is representative of the period.
Quick-paced “China Doll” sung by Clark and the boogie-woogie style of “Music Keeps
Rollin’ On” performed by Barrence Whitfield are original tunes from the film, though
you’ll swear that you’ve heard them before.
After this wave of jubilance, the CD concludes with the late Ruth Brown’s bluesy
“Things About Coming My Way,” which tells it all (if you’ve seen the film).
Students of American music history as well as blues aficionados will relish the
Honeydripper soundtrack. However I strongly suggest that you see the film as, along with the CD, it will connect you to this important era in music culture.
