Red Dog Speaks

Cover of Red Dog Speaks

'Red Dog Speaks' follows 2008's 'The Blues Rolls On', which earned him a Grammy nomination and four 2009 Blues Music Award nominations. 'Red Dog Speaks' features five new Bishop originals plus songs by Jimmy Cliff, Otis Spann, Leroy Carr, and others.

The title track tells the story of his '59 Gibson Stereo ES 345 guitar, nicknamed "Red Dog." The album proves full of hooks and humor as well, such as on Bishop's "Fat And Sassy." Buckwheat Zydeco lends his accordion to "Blues Cruise" which also features excellent guitar work by Tommy Castro and Ronnie Baker Brooks; the track was recorded live on the high seas. The traditional gospel tune "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" gets the Bishop slide treatment. He plays solo on "Clean Livin', " a reflection on his younger lifestyle and a highlight of the album.

Bishop is a slide guitar great with 45-years of blues under his belt. Rolling Stone has praised his "careening slide and razor-edged bursts, all delivered with unflagging enthusiasm and wit." He is a founding member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and recorded three groundbreaking albums with the group. After launching a solo career, Bishop's 1976 single "Fooled Around and Fell In Love, " still in heavy rotation on classic rock radio, reached number three on Billboard's Pop Singles chart, pushing the album 'Struttin' My Stuff' to number 18 on the Pop Albums chart. He has performed on recordings by John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley, and The Allman Brothers Band, among many others. On stage, he's wielded his guitar to accompany the likes of John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix, Big Joe Williams, Little Walter, Junior Wells, Albert Collins, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes and many others. Blues Revue has called Bishop "head and shoulders - and slide guitar - above the rest."

* Liner Notes and song listings here.

* Purchase on Amazon here.

Elvin Bishop (Guitar, Vocals, Slide Guitar), Ronnie Baker Brooks (Guitar), Buckwheat Zydeco (Accordion), Kid Anderson (Guitar). Roy Gaines (Guitar, Vocals), Terry Hanck (Tenor Sax), John Nemeth (Harmonica, Vocals), Mike Schermer (Rhythm Guitar), Snakebite (Tenor Sax), Tommy Castro (Guitar), Bobby Cochran (Drums), June Core (Drums), Ruth Davies (Bass), Tom Poole (Trumpet), Bob Welsh (Guitar, Piano, Keyboards), R.C. Carrier (Rubboard), Sir Reginald Dural (Rubboard), Ed Earley (Trombone, Tambourine, Vocals).

Love Me Tonight #1 on Roots Music Chart again!

#1 this week again! Check it out right here.

Love Me Tonight CD hits stores January 27

You can order the new CD on Amazon or on John's site. For those of you in the Bay Area, we will be celebrating the release of the new album with a show at Yoshi's in Oakland on Friday, February 27, 2009. Come celebrate with us! And check out the review from BluesWax:

BluesWax, January 2009 - by Richard Ludmerer, Contributing Editor

John Németh possesses a maturity far beyond his years. Németh is a great harp player and also a great singer. His emotive voice has enough range to reach those high falsetto notes and when he does he sounds painfully real. Németh is also a great songwriter and on Love Me Tonight, his second recording for Blind Pig, he gives us eleven new songs of which he has written ten.

Németh also has an ear for talent because having a new band might have set him back. On guitar (and keyboards) is Bobby Welsh; on drums is June Core, whose credits include Little Charlie and The Nightcats; and on bass is Dmitry Gorodetsky (formerly with Roomful of Blues) or Kedar Roy.

The album opens with the title track "Love Me Tonight." It is modeled after a familiar R&B riff. June Core's drumming holds it together while Welsh's guitar line and short solo are commanding. Németh's voice is in fine form. "Just Like You" is a well written song. "I'm a rebel baby, just like you," it's a catchy line and the background vocals work well. Welsh's slide solo kicks it up and Németh comes in on harp and carries this one home.

The highlights then begin to pile up. "Fuel For Your Fire" is destined to be a classic. Németh's vocals on this and on "Too Good To Be True" are perfect. Welsh's guitar on the latter almost jumps off the recording. The most soulful original on the album is when Németh sings "My Troubled Mind." "Where You Been" opens with Németh on chromatic harp while Gorodetsky excels on bass. "She's My Hearts Desire" and "Love Gone Crazy" are two more highlights; the later features Németh again on harp. Elvin Bishop guests on "Daughter of The Devil" while Németh sings through the harp mike. Bishop's guitar gives them a funkier sound. Bishop also plays guitar on "Country Boy."

The album closes with "Blues in My Heart." Németh literally sings his heart out while Welsh, Core, and Gorodetsky become the John Németh Band. John Németh is without a doubt one of the most exciting young talents to emerge in many years. This album adds to his legacy.