Charlie Bedford

Good To Go

Blue Heart Records

Charlie Bedford hails from Melbourne Australia. The guitarist began playing in clubs, seven years ago, at the age of twelve. The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society sent Bedford to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Bedford returned to Memphis in 2020 and signed a distribution deal with Blue Heart Records, a division of Nola Blue, for this his sophomore recording.

Bedford, guitar and vocals; is joined by David Carr, bass, guitar and backing vocals; and Tim Anderson, Drums. Tim Wild handled the production and vocal arrangements, and also sits in as an additional background singer. Additional guests include Chris “Stibbo” Hanger from the Melbourne based band The Jump Cats on harmonica; and keyboardist Daryl Roberts.

“Good To Go” includes eleven Bedford originals.  Bedford opens with the funky “Money Junkie” and the lyric “she wants your money, sonny”; and the first song chosen for airplay. The pop sounding blues rock tune includes a short solo. “Honey” is another well written song “just listening to the beat” and should cause comparisons to both Jonny Lang and John Mayer. “No Rain, No Flowers” is another song with a great hook. The title track features some great drumming from Anderson and another Bedford solo.

“Windy Wednesday” suggests an appreciation for the beachy California sounds. “Just a Little Longer” is a bit of southern soul, while “Telephone” is a psychedelic instrumental. My favorite “Upgrades” is about a girl seeking the latest in technology.

The only cover is “Steady Driver Man” written and recorded by the band Willy Deville in 2002 with Stibbo sitting in on harp. Stibbo appears again on the closer “Blues For John” a tribute to Bedford’s friend the late John Jerman former President of the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society.

Bedford at only nineteen years old is a pleasant surprise and a very good songwriter. Many of these songs are short and it would be interesting to hear live expanded versions of them. Bedford should have a great musical future.

Richard Ludmerer