The Name Droppers Starshine

May 30, 2024

The Name Droppers

Starshine

Horizon Music

The Name Droppers is a relatively new band consisting of drummer/vocalist Bobby T. Torello; Scott Spray, bass; Ron Rifkin, keyboards; and Rafe Klein, guitar. Torello is a member of the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame and toured with Michael Bolton, Grace Slick, Johnny Winter, and others. I first heard Torello when he was with the Jay Willie Blues Band. Spray is an award-winning bass player who played with Johnny Winter, his work on Winter’s CD/DVD “Step Back” won Spray a Grammy for Best Blues Album in 2015.Guitarist Rafe Klein is also a songwriter who played alongside the late Charlie Karp. Ron Rifkin is a keyboard whizz who also played with Karp.

This is the bands 4th studio album following on the heels of 2023’s “Blue Diamonds”. “Starshine”, the title track, opens with a muscle shoals groove. Singer Rafe Klein begins with a narrative while the background vocalists are Rifkin and Torello. Harmony is provided by Simone Brown. “Sweet Little Angel” is the B.B. King classic sung by Klein. “Whiskey” is a lesson in sobriety, “don’t drink no whiskey, don’t drink no wine” with Torello singing lead.

The beautiful “Shades of Blue”, written by Klein and Andy Mcclish, is influenced by Van Morrison and The Box Tops. The harmony vocalist is Carole Sylvan. Klein sings “down on my love, there is a light that shines from above”. “I Died, You Cried” is a song about a perfect wake “that be the day, when I died, you cried. “Can’t Take It With You”, “when you’re gone” is a good follow-up featuring Rifkin on keys. My favorite is “Rotten Person” with Torello singing “you like doin what’s wrong, I like doin what’s right…you are so mean, you make me want to scream…you know you’re a rotten person”.

“I Want To Hold Your Hand” is the Lennon/McCartney classic ambitiously re-arranged with the late Charlie Karp on guitar. “Red Sea Blues” is a mournful lament including harmony by Simone Brown. “Joy, Pain, Sky”, includes the words “joy is everything”, with guests Dave Lowrie, piano; and Jonathan Dubose, guitar.

I almost didn’t review this album which is much better than I originally anticipated. The Name Droppers really shine on “Starshine”. Do not overlook this beautiful album.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

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