ERIC BURDON: ‘Til Your River Runs Dry
ERIC BURDON
‘Til Your River Runs Dry
ABKCO 8906
Eric Burdon returns to action with this set of ten originals plus Marc Cohn’s “Medicine Man” and Bo Diddley’s “Before You Accuse Me.” That last cover takes on greater gravitas with the presence of Burdon’s eulogy “Bo Diddley Special” here, essentially a sequel to the Animals’ 1964 “Story of Bo Diddley.”
Most of the songs are blues, drenched with urgency and darkness aplenty. Burdon’s songwriting is pointed and pithy, wasting very little lyrically. “Water” opens the set with the line “This world is not for me.” The urgency level rises from there. “Memorial Day,” essentially a protest song, urges “On Memorial Day be strong and let peace be the way.” “Devil and Jesus” is Gospel soaked buoyed by Leslie Smith’s arrangement for the backing voices. “27 Forever” is a meditation on the inevitable passing of the “fame and glory” Burdon and the Animals found when he was 27. “River Is Rising” is New Orleans flavored with Jon Cleary on piano and guitar and a percolating Second Line style horn section. This song spins the tale of Katrina’s damages specifically focusing on the storm wrought travails of Fats Domino (herein called King Antoine). “Invitation to the White House” especially impresses me. Here Burdon relates a dream in which he’s been asked to the White House to parlay with and advise the President all set to a grinding blues setting as Red Young’s piano drives this one.
Throughout the playing is impeccable. Bassists Terry Wilson and Reggie McBride and drummers Brannen Temple and co-producer Tony Braunagel anchor the tracks. Guitarists Johnny Lee Schell and Billy Watts are solid. And Burdon is in exceptionally good voice.
‘Til Your River Runs Dry is a powerful document, one of Eric Burdon’s best works in a long and storied career. His songwriting is potent throughout, and the band swings as it brings his songs to life. A way better set than I expected, this is a delicious work that keeps elbowing its way into my CD player. It feels especially good as road music in the car.
— Michael Tearson