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Artist: Bill Sheffield
Label: American Roots Records
Length: 14 tracks/50:44
The latest recording from Bill Sheffield is his first with a label that provides national distribution. Making the most of the opportunity, Sheffield has crafted a recording that amply displays his numerous talents. He produced the sessions, wrote nine of the tracks while co-writing two others plus handles the lead vocals, most of the guitar parts and some of the percussion.
This high level of involvement means the artist had better have the skills needed to in each area to create an exciting recording. One listen to the disc will quickly prove that Sheffield is easily up to the task. His vocals are easy on the ears, often sounding like Delbert McClinton without the grittiness. Sheffield avoids the temptation of trying to copy the sound of an old blues singer. He just stays with-in his range, not pushing too hard while singing with emotional honesty .
The country Blues tune “Cherry Blossom Time “ opens the disc with an up-tempo piece featuring Sheffield’s finger-picking ability on guitar along with the first of several appearances by Simon Kenevan on harmonica. Another harp player, Paul Linden, blows some hot licks on three tracks. He really shines on “The Ballad of Brer Rabbit”, an original that opens with a tight groove as Sheffield recasts the old folk tale in the modern age complete with drug habits, judicial bribes and jail sentences. It is a performance that will have you singing along before the song ends. Another humorous track is “New Tattoo” with Sheffield describing ink like “…bright red lips in a very private place. My grandma says it’s a sad disgrace, I got my whole family in a stew when I go down to get a new tattoo”.
Two covers explore the darker sides of life. “An Invitation to the Blues” is a Tom Waits song that visits the underside of the human highway in somber fashion. Sheffield’s vocal misses some of the depth of Waits voice but still manages to convey the weariness of the songs lyrics. Tom Gray’s “Shooky Come Home” is a plea for the return of a loved one with assurances of forgiveness. Accompanied by his guitar, Sheffield turns in performance of quiet grace.
Another highlight is “I Don’t Hate Nobody” because, as Sheffield points out, “ ..it’s a waste of my time”. The song is set to the easy rolling tempo established by more quality finger-picking on the guitar. The following track explores gospel music as Bill explains that despite trials and tribulations of modern existence, God is still in Heaven and “It Don’t Bother Me”. The title track is an introspective look at the past with all the regrets that exist and the hope that God will hear our prayers.
Bill Sheffield is a talented artist, a fact that becomes immediately apparent as this recording unfolds. He deserves to be heard by a wider audience. Hopefully, American Roots Records can get this recording the attention it deserves. His mix of blues, gospel and folk elements creates a very appealing package that is highly recommended.
Mark Thompson 4/18/2006