© Copyright-Ron Campbell (775020209121)
Record Label: Dirt Road Records
CD price: $12.97
IN STOCK. ORDER NOW.
Will ship within 24 hours!

Ron Campbell is a singer/songwriter from Powell River, BC, Canada. His second CD "Pure Blues Guy" features acoustic guitar, harmonica and drums, all played by Campbell, and string bass played by Gord Jolie. Recorded in 2001, the CD includes eleven original blues songs as well as Robert Johnson's "Traveling Riverside Blues" and Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love". Like Campbell's first CD, the style here is very Delta Blues-influenced: lots of slide guitar and blues harp, and raw passionate vocals.

I haven't looked up the definition of the word "blues" but I would guess that it was a saddened state of mind based on human suffering brought on by a few bad breaks in the human experience (or something like that). The reason I even mentioned that was because this CD from Ron Campbell features one of the happiest guys you would ever want to meet signing "the blues"...

Ron's voice is nothing like the stereotyped blues vocalist that I was expecting. When I loaded the CD into my player I sat back ready to experience a gravel voiced singer that sounded like he smoked 20 cigarettes between each set. Maybe even a guitar that had 2 year old strings on them. NOT this CD!

Ron sounded like he came right off the broadway stage and into the studio. He was so polished that I couldn't get the blues listening to him. I was too happy to feel remorse for the plight of a wayward blues man. How can you have the blues after listening to track #6, 'Chick Flick' anyways? I was laughing my tail off at the lyrics and once you hear this song you will know what I mean. This song was a great listening experience. So was the religious track #9 'God watches over me' as Ron lays it on the line for his lord and saviour. It's not the blues- it's just too happy.

Maybe Ron needs his dog to die or his wife to leave him. Maybe he could lose his job and start drinking heavily. He could go to the bank and discover that the bank failed and his money was not insured. Now that would be the blues.

Now let's get serious for a paragraph. Ron Campbell is a solid musician. He is deep rooted in his Delta Blues style and he has a fine command of his guitar. He does a little slide and he is pretty good with that harmonica. The CD was very entertaining and at the end of the day if someone can put a smile on my face then I have to say one BIG THUMBS UP to Ron Campbell.

You will never get the blues listening to 'Pure Blues Guy' but you will get a solid CD with stunning vocals and music that will put joy in your heart and a smile on your face. The world needs more people like Ron Campbell.
Charles Harrelson- EvO:R Independent Musc Reviewer.

Snake-Eyes Sam

Hard Headed Woman

(Don't Want No) Chick Flick

One Heartbreak Too Many

God Watches Over You And Me

Delivery Man