Track Listing

1. Lateral Climb
2. How Deep in the Blues (Do You Want to Go)
3. Nobody's Fault But Mine
4. Riley B. King
5. You're Gonna Need a Friend
6. One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor - Robben Ford, Susan Tedeschi
7. Too Much
8. Peace on My Mind
9. There'll Never Be Another You
10. River of Soul
11. Moonchild Blues

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69478 in Music
• Released on: 2007-08-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
On his latest release, guitar legend Robben Ford speaks the truth...not just with the sound of his guitar, but with the vision behind his music as he ventures deep into the blues with aggressive licks, direct and honest vocals and an uncharacteristic, yet appealing, rough edge. The CD also features Susan Tedeschi on the song One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor. Robben will be on tour throughout the Month of August 2007.

Amazon.com
Not to be confused with Jeff Beck's identically titled 1968 album of crackling blues-rock fusion, this disc incorporates Robben Ford's unique blend of blues and jazz, but not rock. His first studio outing in four years shoehorns his traditionally biting, incisive-yet-clean guitar licks into songs that can't easily be pigeonholed. The opening easygoing Chicago shuffle of "Lateral Climb" is about as bluesy as it gets. The tune kick-starts the proceedings with a blazing solo that will have guitar fans salivating that this is finally the release where Ford opens up on his instrument. But the set shifts into a distinctive blend of R&B, jazz, smooth blues, and pop that displays the multitalented musician's strengths as a supple, subtle, and inviting vocalist as well as an intermittently skillful songwriter. A taut cover of Otis Redding's "Nobody's Fault but Mine" finds Ford mining a Memphis groove, as does the gospel-tinted "You're Gonna Need a Friend," cowritten with his wife. "Too Much" features an ominous plodding beat that never quite connects until the slashing solo, and the less said about the clichéd B.B. King tribute "Riley B. King" (cowritten with Keb' Mo') the better. But a rousing version of Paul Simon's "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor" with Susan Tedeschi hits the soulful sweet spot Ford occasionally misses with the sporadically bland, yet agreeably jazzy fare that dominates this eclectic project's final third. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews

Enthralling.
Blues guitarist, Robben Ford (Yellowjackets), has a new album on Concord Records titled "Truth".
The blues will never die is an axiom proven over and over again, but it does change shape.
Robben Ford's latest release presents blues as they are today: in a powerful setting only a master veteran like Ford could envision.
"The blues have always been socio-political", says Ford.
In the opening song "Lateral Climb", he addresses the 9 to 5 grind, credit card debt, and the political frustrations we all experience.
"Peace on My Mind" was inspired by Willie Dixon's "It Don't Make Sense, You Can't Make Peace", which Ford describes as an anti-war song without being too preachy.
"If you're pointing the finger, no one wants to hear it. It's a portrait rather than a sermon. The truths I describe are self evident"
In this set, Ford also incorporates playful tunes, like "You're Gonna Need a Friend", co-written by his wife and singer Anne Kerry Ford.
In it, Ford subverts blues clichés, such as the evil lady who bedevils her victim.
Other tracks on the album include a funky cover of Paul Simon's "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor", which features guest vocals by Susan Tedeschi, as well as loyal version of Otis Redding's early B-Side, "Nobody's Fault But Mine".
This is an album from a jazz electric guitarist that has a splash of soul, a pinch of R & B and a dash of jazz.
All of these genres mixed together form a musical brew that will enthrall listeners, and Ford's emotive lyrics will put the poignant feeling over the top.
My favoutite tracks are : "Riley B. King", which has bluesier guitar work with a slow pace, "One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man Floor" (on which Susan Tedeschi, with her soulful voice literally saves a cover of Paul Simon's song ) and "River Of Soul".
I'm loving it.
You will like it for sure!

Hey, it ain't Zeppelin, but...
I gave this record 4 stars, because it isn't quite the tour-de-force that you find on "Tiger Walk"(instrumental with the "Expensive Winos") or "Blue Moon" (return to roots-my current favorite).

The fact is that Robben has a diverse set of influences, (as do I). Miles didn't hire the man for no reason.

"Truth" is exactly what I expected. The soulful playing, top-notch recording, and back-up musicians don't wane, and he has consistently been able to look forward, driving progressive blues, and still tip his hat to those that inspire him, with choice covers ("Badge" and "Money" from "Keep on Running", Otis Redding and Paul Simon here). His homage to BB King here is absolutely heart-felt.

I firmly believe that Robben Ford is as good a "traditional" guitarist as there is in the marketplace today, and he makes the effort on his solo projects to keep himself reliable, fresh, and entertaining for his followers, while working to expand and revive the blues, and, further, open the ears of all that choose to harken. He incessantly eschews chops for a melody and a theme, but his note choice at any moment will make your head turn.

If you care to hear him get down deeper, check out Jing Chi, with Vinnie Colaiuta (Zappa, Sting, Holdsworth) and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets). Three feet required.

Superb
I have never written a review before - until now. Handful of Blues first introduced me to Robben Ford, and I never thought anything would ever surpass it. Truth just did. It is honest, smooth, and fluid. A most mature and at ease performance. Thanks Robben.