Georgie Bonds

Hit It Hard

Roadhouse Redemption Records

As a young man Bonds got into trouble with the law. After doing his time he pursued his love of horses and spent the next fourteen years as Philadelphia’s village blacksmith.

Then in the early 1990’s he began to host the open mic blues jam at Warmdaddy’s, the local Philly blues club. As Georgie “Gatormouth” Bonds and The Blueskeepers he backed blues musicians when they needed a pick up band. Bonds released his first album, “Sometimes I Wonder”, in 2001. Unfortunately soon later he was sidelined with health issues.

Bonds released his second album “Stepping Into Time” in 2013. Just when his singing career was beginning to take off he was sidelined again. Bonds spent the first half of 2015 recovering from hip surgery.

This new album “Hit It Hard” was just released in October. The band on this recording includes Bonds, vocals; Producer Neil Taylor, guitar; Walter Runge, organ; Rick Prince, bass; Andy Haley, drums; and Executive Producer Buddy Cleveland, harmonica.

The funky opener “Pickin Your Bones” was written by Bob Greenlee and C.E. Smith. It is a tribute to Bonds’ mentor Sonny Rhodes who took him under his wing after first hearing him way back in the early 1990’s. Bonds sings with a fervor. Cleveland and Taylor solo nicely.

Bonds’ has written both “Come Back Baby” and “Another Year”. On the later Bonds laments the prospect of spending another year in jail. Bonds’ also co-wrote “Paid Vacation” with Neil Taylor.

Runge’s piano opens “Let’s Get Down” written by Taylor. Featured are saxophonists Dave Renz, tenor; and Vanessa Collier, alto. Taylor also authored two more songs “Deadly Poison” and “Blues Job”. The later features another horn arrangement by Renz.

Cleveland plays harp on all songs except those featuring the horns. He also contributes two songs; “Sentenced to The Blues” and “Butter Your Biscuit”.

Also included are two covers; Sam “The Bluzman” Taylor’s “Not Tired of Living” was originally recorded by Sam in 2003. The other cover is “Blind” Willie Johnson’s “The Soul of a Man”.

This is another fine album from Bonds and his roadhouse redeemers.

Richard Ludmerer