Jackie Payne / Steve
Edmondson Band
Overnight Sensation
Delta Groove Records
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I think all of us who
have followed Jackie Payne & Steve Edmonson have
been waiting for a record like Overnight Sensation.
Their latest release on Delta Groove brings
everything together to show why this band is at the
top of its game and clearly one of the finest Soul/Blues bands out there today. This is a gem of a
record. Let’s get to it.
“Overnight Sensation” is Jackie’s ode to his roots
and pays tribute to the days when he was living in
Texas and being schooled by the likes of T-Bone
Walker, Johnny Copeland and others. “My school was a
one night stand…and my teacher’s taught me
right…they call me an overnight sensation…but its
sure been a long…long…night!” School’s out and the
grade is definitely an A. Jackie is definitely the
lover in the band and he’s working hard on his
latest conquest in “Can I Hit It Again.” “Baby, you
know…you don’t have to go…stay right here…let me hit
it some more.” I think no matter what I say here I’m
in trouble so we’ll let it ride.
Up next is an
interesting tune, “Mother In Law Blues,” one of
three non-original tunes on the record. Seems no
matter how you cut it, the mother in law is in the
way. “I’m in love with you baby…but your mother’s
got to move…I just can’t help myself, babe…I got
these old mother in law blues!” Mom’s in the middle
of everything and she just needs to go if this one’s
going to work out ok.
Lech Wierzynski’s trumpet plays a sweet melody in
the background as Jackie works to charm the object
of his affections in “Take a Chance on Me.” “Take a
chance on me…woman…give me that action…sugar …can’t
you see…I’m offering satisfaction.” This is a band
that’s honed its chops over the years and you’ll be
hard pressed to find a tighter group anywhere.
More
horns provide the backdrop for our next cut, “I Got
a Mind to go to Chicago”. Jackie’s got an itch to
head back to the Windy City to hear some blues done
right. “I think I’ll get in my own car…make that
long, lonesome ride…I think I’ll park on Maxwell
Street…walk up and down that South Side.” A side
trip to Buddy Guy’s Legends seems to seal the deal
for Jackie’s trip back to Chicago. Steve Edmonson
jumps in with a guitar solo to punctuate Jackie’s
need for some good blues and all should work out
fine.
Muted trumpet by Lech and Carl Green’s
saxophone provide the feel for Jackie’s next night
out. Seems he’s out on the prowl in “Uptown Woman
Downtown Man.” “I’ve looked in the mirror…and I’m
sharp as a tack…checking out the chicks…all along
the way…who knows…this might be my lucky day…I need
an uptown woman…looking for a good downtown man!”
Jackie’s strutting his stuff and he’s being picky.
My guess is he finds what he’s looking for.
“There you are…at the bar…drinking alone in the
dark…again…though we’ve never met…I think I’ll call
you…my midnight friend”. It’s late and Jackie’s come
across a woman who he never approaches…if she’s out
it’s because things aren’t going well in her
relationship, but she’s not quite available to
Jackie’s charms although you’re never quite sure if
they’ve hooked up or not.
Next up is Jackie’s take
on the Isaac Hayes’s classic, “Your Good Thing is
About to End.” Jackie’s vocals throughout have been
smooth and seductive and he more that does justice to
Isaac’s tune. “Look out…your good thing…is about to
come to an end…your real…real…good thing is about to
end!”
The tempo and the heat both pick up with “No Money,
No Honey.” Jackie needs a woman to support him in
his endeavors, but right now funds are tight and his
ability to go looking for the perfect woman is
limited. The net result is: “No money…no honey!” Our
next tune finds Jackie pondering the changes he sees
in the woman he loves. She’s wise to Jackie’s ways
and as a result, she has a “Bag Full of Doorknobs.”
It seems every time Jackie’s away, she changes the
locks on the doors and when Jackie returns, he has
to sneak in through the window. “That’s why I ever
leave home!”
The “She’s Looking Good/I’ve Never
Found a Girl” medley is something that Jackie was
encouraged to include on the record by Phyllis Otis
and it’s a lot of fun. Jackie’s singing style is
high energy and he tackles this medley with all the
verve of a church revivalist.
Overnight Sensation closes with an instrumental by
Steve Edmonson and the band, “Bringing Me Right Back,”
and then a very soulful version of the Charlie Rich
tune, “Feel Like Going Home.” Jackie’s vocals are
dead on and you can feel the emotion in his heart as
he sings, “And now Lord, I’m coming on home to
you…and I feel like…going home!” Jackie and Steve
have the unique ability to make a tune their own, and
this is a beautiful rendition of “Feel Like Going
Home” with some wonderful B3 organ chords in the
background.
This is a classic release by the Jackie Payne / Steve
Edmonson Band, and kudos to Randy Chortkoff of Delta
Groove for providing them with a forum that enables
them to showcase their best work. Classic soul
blues / R&B albums in the vein of Otis Clay, Little
Milton, Tyrone Davis and all of the masters from
before don’t happen as much anymore. Overnight
Sensation shows us what we’ve been missing and
hopefully, there’s a lot more to come from Jackie
and
Steve.
--- Kyle Deibler