Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes
Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes EP
Readymade Records [2012]
Fire Note Says: Two eras of R&B garage style rock meet up for a stellar modern EP!
Album Review: This EP release was one of the cool collaborations that came out last week on Record Store Day’s Black Friday. It features Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eric Burdon (The Animals, WAR) and Cincinnati garage rockers The Greenhornes. The collaboration was producer and Raconteur Brendan Benson’s idea to bring back The Animals sound here and I must tell you the idea was a great one!
I am sure there are many of you out there that are unfamiliar with The Animals work but probably would know their classic “House Of Rising Sun”. Also clearly not as popular as The Rolling Stones but The Animals are also credited as having a huge influence on R&B based bands from the British Invasion era. Of course present day this music still reigns supreme as this EP’s first original track, “Black Dog”, starts off with Burdon plainly stating “My name is Winston Churchill and I’m having a fucking nervous breakdown” before The Greenhornes rev up the instruments.
This UK rhythm and blues meets US garage style is a perfect match as all four songs here have a muscular bluesy style that just makes your head groove for the entire almost 17 minute long collection. Burdon still has a powerful deep growl to his voice that showcases he still has tons of presence as The Greenhornes quality playing supports every line and never lets him down. The first three tracks each take their time to peak and groove while the final song “Cab Driver” will surprise you a bit with its more playful approach and peppy march as Burdon sings from the perspective of an American cab driver originally from Iraq. It is a solid finish to the EP and makes it easy to reach for the repeat button.
If you didn’t snag it already on vinyl you might want to search it out as I feel that this was one of the better vinyl releases last Friday. The EP is also available for digital download so don’t fret if you missed out because the music here is well worth checking out even if you didn’t get the wax!
Key Tracks: “Black Dog”, “Can You Win”
Artists With Similar Fire: Howlin’ Wolf / The Animals / The Fleshtones
Eric Burdon Website
The Greenhornes Website
Eric Burdon Facebook
The Greenhornes Facebook
Readymade Records
-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony
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