The ten-track collection opens with a Texas Roadhouse soaked “Ticket To Ride,” featuring McKendree on barrelhouse piano. “Taxman,” from the 1966 album Revolver is given a full Haight Ashbury psychedelic treatment. First released as B-Side, “Don’t’ Let Me Down,”  was credited to “The Beatles with Billy Preston”; here the Tramps smooth out the groove and add some southern slide guitar. The deep cut from Hard Day’s Night, “Happy Just to Dance With You,” is almost unrecognizable from the original as the Tramps remake it as a sweet 70’s Memphis Soul number with a touch of B.B. King.

James spars with Yates McKendree on the whiskey soaked take of “Oh Darlin’,” both eking out the emotions of a classic blues number. Originally an acoustic track, “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” is given a fuller arrangement flavored with touches of Motown and Philly Soul. The swampy feel of “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey,” is more akin to Muscle Shoals than Abbey Road and Wilson tosses in a Duck Dunn quote under the guitar solo. McCartney was going for the Motown sound when he wrote “You Won’t See Me” in 1965; James and the Tramps give the song a sultry sophisticated vibe smoothing its pop edges. Their cover of Lennon’s “No Reply,” from 1964 successfully mirrors the Brill Building sound of the same era by fusing together influences of Latin, traditional black gospel, and rhythm and blues, achieving what The Beatles often sought for.

The slinky swing version of “Think For Yourself,” closes out the set with James and the Tramps reimagining one of George Harrison’s first philosophical songs, released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul, as a Texas Blues shuffle. Regarded as the most influential band of all time, the music of The Beatles has been with us for 60 years. Veteran musicians Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps have undoubtably felt that influence in their lives and share their affection with the world on this brilliant new project that her fans and Beatles fans will love.

Rick J Bowen

BIOGRAPHY

Teresa James was born and raised in Houston, Texas where she was introduced to music at an early age by her father and grandfather, both guitar players in the old tradition. She started playing piano at five and hasn’t stopped since. Teresa has been called a singer’s singer by many. (When the SAG Singer’s Committee got together to honor composer Randy Newman, Teresa was chosen as the soloist to perform his favorite song to him.)  She has recorded with Tommy Castro, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Randy Newman, Lee Roy Parnell, Neil Diamond, Walter Trout, Stephen Bruton, JP Soars, and many others. She has performed live with lots of other artists, including, Levon Helm, Eric Burdon, Delbert McClinton, Marcia Ball, and Doyle Bramhall, Jr. to mention just a few.

Teresa and her band, the Rhythm Tramps, are a Los Angeles based act made up of players that have either played or recorded with such artists as Joe Bonamassa, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Burdon & the Animals, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Reed, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmie Vaughan, Allen Toussaint, B.B. King, Johnny Nash, Dixie Chicks, Jennifer Warnes, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, Tower Of Power, just to name a few and have had their songs recorded by Paul Rodgers, Eric Burdon, Bill Medley, Tommy Castro, Marcia Ball, Janiva Magness and others. As one critic said, “there are no clichés in this band.” They move easily through Texas style grease and blues into Memphis soul or New Orleans’ flavored grooves and all points in between with fun and abandonment.

Teresa and the band have toured all over North America and Europe and have played such music festivals as Notodden in Norway, Moulin Osprey in Holland, Tampa Blues Festival, Main St Arts Festival in Ft. Worth, TX, Portland’s Waterfront Festival, and she has been one of the featured acts on Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise for the past 16 years.

James was nominated by the Blues Foundation in 2008 for “Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year.” Teresa’s last two releases have both earned 4-Star reviews in DownBeat and two of her previous albums have been awarded Independent Music Awards for blues by popular vote. Their previous studio album, “Here In Babylon,” garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. A couple of years ago, their song, ‘Forgetting You,’ received second-place honors in the 2019 Unsigned Only blues category. Their last album, Rose-Colored Glasses Volume 1 received these accolades:

• Silver Medals (contemporary blues, female vocalist) – The Global Music Awards
• Best Blues Record – The Libera Awards (nomination)
• Best R&B/Soul CD – Independent Blues Awards (nomination)
• “Takes One to Know One” – 2nd Place (blues) – Unsigned Only 2022
• “Rose-Colored Glasses” – Best R&B/Soul Song – Independent Awards (nomination)