Eric Bibb In The Real World

October 2, 2024

Eric Bibb

In The Real World

Repute Records

Eric Bibb, the son of Leon Bibb, a singer-songwriter popular during the folk music scene of the 1960’s, grew up surrounded by the folksingers of the time including Leadbelly, Odetta, Pete Seeger, Paul Robeson and Bob Dylan. Other influences include Joan Baez, Richie Havens and Taj Mahal. Eric released his debut recording in 1972; to date he has 25 studio albums, 17 collaborative albums, five live recordings, and three DVD’s. Leon has 23 Blues Music nominations winning four times for Acoustic Album of The Year. Leon also has received Grammy nominations for the 1997 children’s album “Shakin’ a Tailfeather” recorded with Taj Mahal and Linda Tillery, and for 2017’s “Migration Blues” recorded with Jean-Jacques Milteau, a French blues harmonica player. In 2021 Eric recorded “Dear America” on Provogue Records; 2023’s “Ridin” on Repute Records, and “Live At The Scala Theatre in Stockholm” released earlier in 2024. “In The Real World” was recorded in Sweden, London, and Nashville.

All songs on “In The Real World” were co-written by Eric and Glenvin Anthony Scott unless mentioned otherwise, “lookin’ at a new sky, and a new dawn” Eric sings the lead vocal and plays an acoustic guitar, while Scott plays, drums, percussion, bass, electric guitar, and hammond B-3 organ, and Robbie McIntosh slide guitar. On “Walk Steady On” Eric takes a beautiful vocal while Scott also plays banjo, mandolin, and a Wurlitzer organ.

“Everybody’s Got A Right” includes a lead vocal from Eric while Scott and Emmanuel Enwokeforo sing harmony. “Best I Can” written solely by Bibb includes the lyric “trying to stay, true to whom I am, the best I can”. On “Make A Change: Eric sings “got to know your neighbors especially the ones that don’t look like you”, the background vocalist is Emilia Franklin.

“This River”, “we’ve been wadin’ cross this river” with Esbjon Hazelius, fiddle. “Stealin’ Home” is another beautiful vocal with Michael Jerome Browne added on harmonica, it is one of my favorites as Eric sings “I say joy in every bone, watchin’ Jackie Robinson stealin’ home”. On “King of The Castle” Eric chimes “welcome to the neighborhood, castle made of cardboard, down in Hollywood”. “Neshoba County” follows.

“Dear Mavis” is another song written solely by Eric, the song is a narrative and a tribute to Mavis Staples as Eric sings, “the way you sing a song, dear Mavis, that’s what you do, play on”. The re-imagined “Roll on Buddy”, the first single released from “In The Real World”, still contains the lyric “how can I roll, when the wheels won’t go”. “Judgement Day”, another beautiful vocal from Eric includes Scott on mandolin as Eric sings “you got to reap what you sow, everyday is judgement day”. “The Real World” follows with twin Violins, Viola & Cello.On the closer “Factory Voices” co-written by Eric and Gordon Cyrus, Lily James sings in duet with Eric, “one by one, no color or religion”.

With a career spanning five decades, three Grammy nominations, and numerous Blues Music Awards, Eric has solidified his legacy. “In The Real World” stands as a testament to his evolution as an artist. The album is deeply rooted in the storytelling tradition of the blues, “and the world we long for”.

Richard Ludmerer

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