Red Belly Blues

Red Belly Blues
By Red Belly Blues
Reviewed by John Tognolini

Red Belly Blues is a duo composed of Chris O'Connor on acoustic 12-string guitar and vocals and Damian Cohen on harmonica and vocals. Their music is addictive for any lover of the blues. Both Chris and Damian also play with Sydney's foot-stomping jug band, the Mudsteppers.

Red Belly Blues the album was recorded live in the studio, a Sydney rendition of raw acoustic blues culled from the Mississippi delta. This first release cassette features fresh interpretations of blues legends Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Willie McTell and Tampa Red.

For me one of the best things of the album is the four original tracks written by Damian Cohen, especially “Tell Me How About It”, which deals with the police killing of David Gundy and Aboriginal deaths in custody. Also top flight are “Consumption Blues”, “Birthday Blues” and “Owned by Nobody”.

The unfortunate thing about such a good blues album is that the only air play it is going to get is on public radio. And it will be available from only a handful of record stores in Sydney, such as Recycled Records in Glebe. But it can be obtained by mail order for $15 (including postage and packaging) made payable to: D. Cohen & C. O'Connor, PO Box 1011, Rozelle NSW 2039.

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
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