October 28, 2023
Review of Backbone
Reviewer – Graham Clarke
Deb Callahan’s sixth album, Backbone (Blue Pearl Records), is a fresh mix of blues, soul, funk, and R&B in the tradition of the city the singer calls home, Philadelphia. The 12 songs include ten written or co-written by Callahan with her bandmates, which include guitarists Allen James, Chris Arms (who also produced the album), and Alan Glass, drummer Tom Walling, bassists Garry Lee and Dave Arms, keyboardist Danny Schogger, saxophonists Jay Davidson and Ken Ulansey, harmonica player John Colgan Davis and vocalist Charlene Holloway.
The funky “What I’m Working With” kicks off the disc, the horns really adding a soulful punch behind Callahan’s testifying. “Crazy Ride” and “Rogue” are deep soul/R&B ballads, and “Big Girl Pants” mixes funk and rock. serving as an encouragement for anyone going through tough times. The swinging “A Few New Tricks” blends blues and jazz.
Callahan really nails the Percy Mayfield classic “Danger Zone,” with one of her best vocals on the album. “Still Fighting To Be Free” moves seamlessly back and forth from acoustic guitar (Alan Glass) to an electric blues rocker, with Davis’ harmonica throughout the track serving as an added bonus.
The fiesty “Don’t Tread On Me” is a soulful rocker, and the moody “Cleaning House” features Chris Arms’ shimmering slide guitar behind Callahan’s emotional vocal. The soul ballad “Thought You Were My Girl” finds the singer feeling disappointed and betrayed, and “Just What the Doctor Ordered” is a popping funk/soul workout.
The album wraps with a cover of Sean Costello’s “Anytime You Want,” a tough rocker that hews closely to the original version, with nice fretwork from James.
Backbone is another winner from Deb Callahan, who remains one of the most compelling vocalists in the blues and soul genres, a voice to be reckoned with in the coming years.
— Graham Clarke
Copyright Deb Callahan Band 2023