Review - Various Artists: The Story of Tone Cool, Vol. 1

VARIOUS ARTISTS
The Story of Tone Cool, Vol. 1 (Tone Cool)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

The Story of Tone Cool features 24 songs on two discs from the label's first 50 releases, and there's a treasure trove of music from this small and innovative Boston label that has brought artists like the North Mississippi All Stars, Susan Tedeschi, Bernard Allison, and Rick Holmstrom to deservedly wider audiences. Samplers like this are few and far between. Check out the 11th Hour Band's high energy instrumental "UFO Alert" and harpman extraordinaire Mark Hummel as he blows through "Rockin at the Riverside" and you'll get an idea of the diversity of the Tone Cool blues catalogue. Long-time blues stalwarts Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Paul Rishell, and Susan Tedeschi are all here, and some of the newer Tone Cool talent is, too. Take blues futurist Rick Holmstrom, the souped-up North Mississippi All Stars, or the ballad Hobex that reminds me of Neil Young's early solo work - this sampler has helped me to the joys of discovery as I wouldn't otherwise have heard many of these Tone Cool artists. For me, that's the hallmark of a good sampler.
Track List:
Disc One: It Hurt So Bad/Susan Tedeschi * Shake 'Em On Down (North Mississippi Allstars) * Pee Wee's Nightmare/Rick Holmstrom * Playin' Games/Hobex * Is It Love?/Todd Thibaud * Say One Thing/Double Trouble w/Doyle Bramhall * Storms Of Life/Bernard Allison * Moving To The Country/ Paul Rishell & Annie Raines * Who Knows What's Goin' On/Rod Piazza & Mighty Flyers * Sugartown/North Mississippi Allstars * Blues On A Holiday/Susan Tedeschi
Disc Two: UFO Alert/The 11th Hour Band * Blues On A Holiday/Paul Rishell * Cheatin' On Me/Earring George Mayweather * Yonder's Wall/James Montgomery * Get Down With The Blues/Tony Z * Freezer Burn/Monster Mike Welch * Honkytonk Forgiveness/Johnny Hoy & The Bluefish * Good Things Come To Those Who Wait/Toni Lynn Washington * Big & Hot/The Love Dogs * Rockin' At The Riverside/Mark Hummel * All Her Lovin'/Terrance Simien * Breakdown On The Bayou/David Maxwell * Tough And Tender/Rod Piazza & Mighty Flyers

© 2003 - Eric Steiner