CHET CHANDLER (aka Memphis Gold) It is straight from the heart and right to your soul is what Memphis gives you. When you hear his singing, it is smooth and rich, Someone you can listen to for a long time, great singer and one superb guitarist! He knows how to make technique and inspirations mesh to get into the listener. Memphis Gold himself is strong in the vocal and instrumental departments, which is not always the case these days. He has something to say, and uses strong vehicles to say it. His guitar solos compliment the mood of the songs. He attributes his awareness that less can be more to his gospel background. The thoughtful guitar solo on "Big Leg Woman" - "What you got down there woman will make a bulldog kiss a hound"- is a notable example. "Melt Down Baby" is a funky instrumental, no doubt great for dancing. When he sings, "...at that fork in the road, and I don't know which way to go. Well, I got these six women, I'm looking for a long happy home," you believe him! He knows how to make technique and inspirations mesh to get into the listener's consciousness. My personal favorites include the lady called "Crabcakes", for whom he has some louisiana hot sauce, "Come on, baby, let`s get Louisiana bound", "Test Drive That Woman", I`m gonns put her lovin' in overdrive," and '3'S tonic', which is about a product(which really exists) called 3S Tonic, The little girl is my 3S, she peps me up both night and day." The approach is in the true tradition, the presentation well honed, contemporary, and above all personal and expressive. -- Howard Rye, Blues & Rhythm Magazine Prodigal Son Chet Chandler, aka Memphis Gold, is described in the CD liner notes as “the genuine article – a throwback to the bluesmen of yore who learned their licks at the knee of a legendary patriarch like Charlie Patton”. Well – he certainly is the genuine article – a tough brooding performer whose music is rooted firmly in the 50s. He was also mentored by a legendary patriarch, the reverend Robert Wilkins, who along with MG’s father (John R Chandler) gave him the “church” upbringing that is so important in developing the intense vocal delivery that permeates the best gospel and blues music. "Prodigal Son" is a simmering cauldron of blues flavoured with Muddy Waters – ‘Test Drive That Woman’, with it’s churning guitar riff, bringing to mind ‘You Need Love’ – whilst the wild and frantic ‘Crabcakes’, with it’s blasting piano, brings to mind both Wolf and Ike Turner. Helping to create this retro-blues feel, MG has recruited a bevy of musicians that include such well-known performers as Phil Wiggins, Charlie Sayles, Lorenzo Johnson and Willie Hicks, all artists steeped in traditional blues. There is (naturally) a strong 50’s Memphis feel to several of these tracks – ‘Don’t Let Her Ride’, with it’s rhythmic harp and hard rocking piano, riding a funky, ‘old school’, guitar riff – as does the chunky rhythmed ‘Prodigal Son’, where piano and guitar lay down a compelling riff over which the harp wails ferociously. Early BB King comes to mind on the brooding ‘Big Leg woman’ and the moody ‘3’s Tonic’; whilst the band get low-down and funky on two ‘greasy’ instrumentals, ‘Melt Down Baby’ and the compelling, and aptly titled, ‘Chicken It’, both of which would have Ike Turner smiling voraciously. A bleak and brooding ‘Serves Me Right’, with it’s anguished vocals and sparse piano, and the funky ‘Come Wit Me’, with it’s booming vocals, are further highlights of a set guaranteed to please. -- Mick Rainsford The Real Blues And Nothin' Else When you head down to the honky tonks and juke joints in the South, these are the Blues you’ll hear seeping through the cracks in the wall. Some of the music is loose, laid-back grooves, while others slow the beat down and let you get close on the dance floor. Memphis Gold (real name Chester Chandler) has the traditional taste of the Blues on this release, The Prodigal Son. Memphis Gold’s music grew up in the church. Being the son of John R. Chandler, deacon of the Church of God in Christ, had a big influence on his son, as did the Reverend Robert Wilkins. The influences were in the air for Gold. He keeps that Gospel tint in the music; just listen to the piano introduction to "Prodigal Son." The influences are there, but the music has more sound from the times he played with artists such as the Fieldstones. The songwriting has some nice pieces to it. "Crabcakes" has Gold askin’ to send his crabcakes back to him if ya see ‘em. The words are a natural fit on these performances. His knack for words makes for a fun ride throughout. There are not a lot of artists left or being recorded that are from the school of musicians such as the Fieldstones, Earl the Pearl, Big Lucky Carter, or Wilroy Sanders. This is a real slice of Blues fresh from the rind. -- Kyle M. Palarino, contributing Editor at BluesWax |
