Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames

Burnin’ Love

Delmark de 806

By Liz Mandeville

Dave Weld is back!  The Chicago native, slide guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader and J.B.Hutto protégé, has spent most of his life playing countless gigs in divey bars, toiling in the trenches of the blues. He’s finally released a long awaited new CD, Burnin’ Love, this time on the Delmark label.

With him are a new revitalized line-up of his Imperial Flames, including:  drummer Jeff Taylor who can shuffle like a mutha and keeps time like a watch; bassists Dave Kay, Bernard Reed and Herman Applewhite take turns filling out the pocket; Harry Yaseen tinkling the ivories, (although, unfortunately, he never takes a solo) and Howlin’ Wolf alumni and long time associate, sax-man Abb Locke. The nicest surprise is singer Monica Myhre who contributes backing vocals and takes the lead on two self-penned tracks. Dave Weld displays the same earnest, honest, unvarnished approach that won my adoration when I first saw him years ago.

Starting the disc is a reprise of my favorite Dave Weld composition, “Sweet Shiney Brown Eyes,” a love song he unabashedly dedicates to his partner in life and music, Monica Myhre. The track is enhanced by harmony vocals and a comfortable lump-de-lump tempo that sets the mood for this joyous 13-track romp through the many faces of the blues.

On “Ramblin’,” a dark minor blues, Dave laments the high cost of living in Chicago. A moaning sax solo by Abb Locke and Dave’s crying guitar reinforce lyrics like “…Cook County, highest tax around/ late workin’ nights now, just to stay in town/ you can love Chicago/ Chicago won’t love you.” And “J.B. Hutto, he told me long ago/ you always stuggle until you leave this town/ All these years playing the blues/ my name is still unknown.” I feel you, brother Dave.

Kicking the tempo up, the title track, “Burnin Love,” cooks along like a road trip. This rockin’  little number has sax, guitar and piano trading licks while layering a nice danceable groove behind Dave’s relaxed tenor voice and humorous ad libs.

On “I Got Mad,” Dave hands the vocal mic to drummer Jeff Taylor. His smooth, spot-on vocal treatment reminds me of classic Johnny “Guitar” Watson. On this track we are once again treated to Abb Locke on sax soloing rhythmically. There is also a first taste of Dave Weld’s trademark slide guitar playing. The tune, which is destined to be a crowd pleaser, has some nice four-part vocal harmonies on the last chorus.

Dave sings a wonderful harmony hook with Monica on “She’s Mine”, an up-tempo warning to all the fellas who may have their eyes on his girl. He sings, “yeah, she’ll socialize/ but don’t think she’s got wandering eyes.” ‘Nuff said!

Monica takes the lead vocal on her original tune “Talk Dirty” with a kittenish growl and unabashed enthusiasm as she begs “talk dirty, talk, talk, dirty to me!” If you liked classic Lou Anne Barton, give Monica Myhre a listen. This girl’s got chops and she’s sober! Monica displays spot-on intonation, great phrasing and a dose of moxy that makes this song more than just cheesecake.

Classic Delta blues guitar starts the slow grind, “Donnie Lee,” Dave’s tribute to his late mother. The song describes his mother’s courage in the face of poverty, illness and her childhood of playing on a dirt floor. He speaks of her wise words about women he wished he’d heeded, and finally her sad passing that “taught him how to die”. This is some deep blues.

Slide guitar guru and Dave’s long time friend, Lil’ Ed Williams, makes a guest appearance with “Ed’s Boogie”. This song nearly jumps right off the music machine as it careens along at breakneck speed. Ed hollers “We’re gonna boogie all night, boogie all day” with his unmistakable vocal delivery and then proceeds to light his guitar on fire!

Slowing it down to a fast clip, Dave laments his lost “Peace of Mind” with the lyric “I had that rope around my neck, feet up on the chair. Life don’t get no better, gonna swing on away from here.”  His prayer is answered in the form of a good woman who gave him back his “Peace of Mind”. The end vamp, with its smoking guitar, layered with the cookin’ rhythm section and tasty vocal injections from Monica, surely will satisfy.

Monica belts out a warning to all us women on “Listen To Mama” in a spirited shuffle that is the perfect framework for Dave’s tasty slide playing. I can’t get enough of Monica, who, like Dave, sings without affectation but with plenty of conviction and humor. “Listen to Mama, she’s nobody’s fool. She was short and wide but she sure knew all about life!”

“All of These Things” sees Jeff Taylor back at the lead vocal position on this lump-de- lump. He lays down the law about what his woman has to do if he’s giving her his money. Dave lays down the law, Elmore James style, on his guitar.

The 12^th track, “Things Are So Slow,” features slow blues with stops that is reminiscent of “Love Me With A Feelin’.”  The song is a classic lament about being let go from a job and all the heartache that goes with no money. “Had a dream last night, standing in a line, same kind of line they had in 1929”.  Teardrops were falling from Dave’s slide guitar as he worked his way through this number.  Abb Locke also takes an eloquent solo on sax.

Things end on an up-note with “She’s Lyin’,” a jumping song about a bad girl who can’t tell the truth. “She’s fine she’s fine, her lips are lyin’ to me.” The end vamp is particularly cool with the punchy groove, vocal harmonies and Dave’s funny ad libs. This is another barrelhouse pleaser.

This CD is blues through and through, just the way I like it. There are no pyrotechnics, no covers of ‘70s rock songs, no shredding guitar, no affectations, just plain good Chicago Blues with enough variety and punch to keep your party dancing, your toes tapping and your hands clapping. Thanks, Dave, this was worth waiting for.

Dave Weld and The Imperial Flames will host a CD release party on July 20, 2010 at Buddy Guy’s Legends.

You can purchase the Burnin’ Love CD at: http://www.cdbaby.com/Search/RGF2ZSBXZWxk/0

Blues woman Liz Mandeville is a true renaissance artist; she’s a sultry singer, award-winning songwriter, guitarist, journalist, painter, educator and all around bon vivant. She has performed all over the world and has four CDs on the Earwig Music label to her credit. 

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