Starlite Campbell Band – Music News

Superton (label)

October 07, 2022 (published)

6am

This is a companion album to the Live album they released in August of this year and, since the line-ups are the same and they were recorded at the same gigs, the results are not no different.

At their best, Starlite Campbell are exceptional purveyors of good ol’ R&B and rock. They feature one of the best session guitarists and producer/arranger of the last forty years – Simon Campbell, a superb bassist from Suzy Starlite, drummer Steve Gibson and the keyboards here feature Jonny Henderson and Christian Madden on various tracks, none of them exactly unknown.

The other thing that sets Starlite Campbell apart from the majority of R&B bands is the sheer pleasure they have in playing well and drawing feedback from their audience. Having had the chance to see them twice, the rapport they establish with the public and the comments they receive are palpable.

This album contains some originals as well as beautiful covers – ‘Peter Gunn/Shaking All Over’ is superb – and exceptional playing, especially on ‘Still Got Time To Be My Baby’ – slow blues with beautiful guitar and organ drunk. . On rocker ‘Brother I Need A Light’ they stretch and moan with Simon’s guitar hitting some really nice points.

My favorite is the ‘Language Of Curiosity’ version, very close to the original but with an insistent beat that gets your heart pumping.

All in all, a good companion to its original sibling.