 Unlike his prior releases, which featured at least a dozen of his usual suspects as band mates, Tommy Lee Cook seems to have shown a bit of a versatile approach to his music on "Outside Looking In", his newest release. On this project it's just Tommy on electric and acoustic guitars, Dobro, lead and background vocals and midi-programming; Danny Shepard on electric guitar, background vocals and midi-programming; and Pat 'Cleanhead" Hayes on harmonica. The eleven tracks are all originals and contain a lot more ballads, a lot more sensitive lyrics and a lot more soulful and heartfelt vocals than a familiar listener may expect from Tommy...and this familiar listener is loving it all. I'm sure it all had to do with Tommy's frame of mind during a recently rough period in which he lost his good friend and music associate - whom the disc is dedicated to - Hamp Walker. Proverbs, words of wisdom, expressions, clichés, or whatever one might call them, Tommy's mother taught him them all.....and as you'll hear on "What You Gone Do", he obviously remembered them all, as well. Interestingly enough, aside from the vocals, the synthesized programmed parts of this track are it's highlights. I'm swearing that I'm listening to a hell of a rhythm section with a piano and a baritone sax. "Take A Breath" is a suggestion Tommy's unsuccessfully making to a boring, over talkative, non punctuation using neighbor on the next barstool who claim's that in spite of only being 35 year old, he knew Elvis. Funny, hearing Tommy mention this guy makes me think I met him as well. Cleverly written sarcastic and humorous lyrics are this tracks highlights. "This Old Flame" is an absolutely beautiful song - vocally, lyrically and musically. The soft rhythm, the light guitar notes and the steady organ background all seem to provide the pulse that drives Tommy's emotional deliverance. Nothing fancy here, just real feelings at work. This song's probably about a love gone wrong yet I can't help but thinking, that in some subliminal way, it may very well have something to do with the way Tommy's buddy Hamp departed. No warning, no phone call, no goodbye.....and from his understanding and sorrowful friends' point of view - there "Ain't No Blame". It was probably a different day or it may very well have been a different joint, but once again, Tommy finds himself sitting next to another talkative stranger. This one, however, seems to be a bit more interesting as he explains "The Truth About Lies" to Tommy. Sung in a narrative form, the sincerity in the telling of this story makes you want to closely listen. The disc ends with it's fastest and hottest track - and as Tommy would probably describe it - "It's A Party". On this smoker - which includes the grumbling of motorcycles - the guitars are flailing, the harp is wailing and the programming's gone madly wild. Other tracks on "Outside Looking In" include: "God's Little Acre", "Grits And Groceries", "Devil On My Shoulder", "She Got The Look", and "Arkansas Dirtweed". To purchase the disc, and to learn more about Tommy and his Buckingham Blues Bar - located in Fort Myers, FL - just go to www.tommyleecook.com. Please make sure you tell him the Blewzzman says "hey" and that I'm looking forward to seeing him in a few weeks.  Part of the promo for what I feature on my Blues Show goes like this:
". . . Indy Artists who could be household names. . ." The new Tommy Lee Cook
CD "Outside Looking In' fits this declaration like a broken-in pair of Tony Lama's. Rock 'n Roll Blues Show DJ KPDO Radio, 89.3 FM, Pescadero, CA www.kpdo.org littleboy.blue@yahoo.com "We receive hundreds of CDs every year. I listen to everything
that comes through. WDNS Bowling Green KY Bowling Green's Classic Rock D93 Blues Bytes Friday Blues Fix    Blues CD Reviews 50
 Tommy Lee Cook "Cemetery Road" & "Buckingham Peace Of Mind" Buckingham Blues BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO, © January 2010 When faced with the dilemma of receiving two CDs from Tommy Lee Cook, that were released at the same time, with a request from Tommy for me to review whichever disc I wanted to, it should already be quite obvious that the decision was just too tough to make. Therefore, I'm going to have a little fun and do my first ever "rereview" (yeah, yeah, I know that's not a word). Except for one guitar player, the differences between the performers on the two discs are basically nil. Each disc contains eleven tracks of which five are originals. Joining Tommy Lee Cook, on lead vocals and rhythm, dobro & acoustic guitars are: Ted Scott and Bill Canty on drums, Harry Cassano and Pat Hayes on keyboards, Rex Bongo, Duke Danger and Danny Shepard on lead guitar, Justin Richey and Rastus Kane on slide guitar, August Zona on bass, Scott "Big Daddy" Johnson and Pat Hayes on harp, Terry Gable on horn and The Skin'er Back Quartet of Harry, Pat, Daddy and Tommy on background vocals and claps. The "Cemetery Road" disc opens with an impressive version of my favorite tribute song - "Six Strings Down". As with the original, the guitar work is fabulous. Also highlighting this track are the outstanding lead and harmony vocals. "Cemetery Road", the title track, is a heavyhearted ballad that, in spite of very nice slide and rhythm work, is all Tommy. On this original track, his mournful and soul filled vocals are chilling. This is the kind country blues song that if performed by someone with the popularity of Trace Adkins would become a number one country hit. Like all men, Tommy gets so easily led when that "Little Head" does the thinkin'. The rhythm guys take the spotlight on this one. Ted, August and Harry get the drums, bass and piano locked into one of those foot tappin', head bobbin' grooves and never let it go. Everyone gets in some highlights on "Porta Rican Woman" (sic) - the discs hottest blues track. The guitars, the keyboards and the harp at one time or another - and often simultaneously - are smoking, and the vocals and rhythm are outstanding throughout. The "Buckingham Peace Of Mind" disc opens with a very funky and well done version of Dylan's "Serve Somebody". As a matter of fact, this could very well be the best version I've ever heard. Ted, August and Terry got that funky feeling down pat on rhythm, Big Daddy's blowin' heat out of the harp, Justin's beside himself on slide, and Tommy - sounding like a Gospel singer - is awesome on vocals. Replays took me nearly thirty minutes to listen to this six minute track. "Consequences" is another slow, blues filled ballad on which Tommy sings his heart out. That, and some serious guitar licks split between Rex and Duke, clearly make this one of this discs best. "Buckingham Peace Of Mind", the title track, is another excellent country blues track. This one features some of the discs best drum work from Billy and lots of good guitar playin' - some of which comes from Tommy, on acoustic guitar. Everyone's showin' off their stuff on "Too Much Stuff". This one's an all out kick ass jam. Who ever's on it, and whatever they're playin' is being played fast and hot. I'm winded just listening. What a perfect song to close on. Other tracks on "Cemetery Road" include: "Big Boss Man", "Bending Like A Willow Tree", "Late Night Drive", "Nothing Lasts Forever", "Blues As Blues Can Get", "Too Drunk To Boogie", and "Little Sister". Other tracks on "Buckingham Peace Of Mind" include: "Monkey Around", "Down Home Girl", "Cross To Bear", "Country Song", "Lie No Better", "Get Right", and "Late Last Night". You can check Tommy Lee Cook out at several places. The first one is his web site which is www.tommyleecook.com. That's where you'll be able to pick up both of these discs. The second is at his blues club. If you happen to live in the area of Southwest Florida, stop in and see him at the Buckingham Blues Bar. Once you're there, tell Tommy the Blewzzman told you all about him. Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com |
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