Published on Jun 6, 1997
Back in the mid-’80s, Robert Cray was touted as one of the
fastest-rising young voices of the blues world. His album
Strong Persuader became his ticket to fame, and he has yet
to equal the selling power he had at that time.
I don’t know why Cray has been touted as a bluesman; his 1990
effort
Midnight Stroll shows the heart of a soul singer trapped in
the body of a blues guitarist. While this album may not have been
as publicly praised, it remains one of Cray’s best works.
From the opening notes of “The Forecast (Calls For Pain)” you
can hear the Motown-like stirrings in Cray’s soul. His voice is
much more suited for that type of music than hard-core blues. Plus,
Cray always seems like such a happy person. (Maybe that’s why
“Bleeding Gums” Murphy said in
The Simpsons that the blues “wasn’t about feeling bad,” but
about “making other people feel worse.”) Cray’s guitar work sings
like only a Fender Stratocaster can, and he is a talented musician,
but it is the soul in his song that makes this music so
special.
Of course, the addition of the Memphis Horns helps a bit, though
at times they tend to distract rather than complement. On
“Consequences,” they tend to hide the beauty of the track, while on
“My Problem” they bring out the pathos of Cray’s vocals. In fact,
rarely has Cray sounded more rooted in the blues than on this
track.
Cray even tends to move into the world of jazz on “Labor Of
Love” – the shuffle of the track brings a new positive life to the
album. Songs like “Bouncin’ Back” show the happy side of blues –
Cray teaches anyone willing to listen ust how enjoyable blues can
be.
Midnight Stroll has a few chinks in its armor, however. The
title track is the most blues-oriented of the bunch, but it is a
weak track. Likewise, “Walk Around Time” is one that Cray tries
hard on, but the song never quite clicks. With the exception of
“Consequences,” the second half of the album is a shade weaker.
However, Cray is able to pull everything together and make a
very enjoyable album. He may not be a “bluesman” in the purest
sense of the word, but
Midnight Stroll is a great album to serve as a primer for
the term “crossover,” as well as an example of how it sounds when
it is done correctly.