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KEEP ON RUNNING
1) Keep On Running (3:27)
2) Over My Head (3:26)
3) Homework (3:34)
4) Badge (3:56)
5) Peace, Love & Understanding (5:12)
(featuring Mavis Staples, vocals)
6) Cannonball Shuffle (4:33)
(for Freddie King)
7) Lifetime Thing (4:16)
8) Bonnie (4:19)
9) Me And My Woman (6:01)
10) For The Love Of Money (4:59)
11) Hand In Hand With The Blues (4:48)
Produced by John Wooler & Robben Ford
Executive Producers: Glen Barros & John Burk
2003 / Concord Records
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On Monday morning of April 28th, 2003, I loaded Robben's gear into West L.A. Studios....
Robben was booked in there for the week to audition, select, and arrange material (both covers & originals) with coproducer ,John Wooler, for Robben's 2nd album on Concord Records. They each entered the studio with stacks of CDs and handfuls of paperwork.
The day began by putting a copy of Spencer Davis's classic version of "Keep On Running" on the CD player for the band to listen to. Now, as a "child of the 60's", you are treading on the sacred grounds of my musical youth when working with a song like this. So, to retain my favor, one must handle the tune with utmost respect and expect the close scrutiny of my severly critical ear....
I vividly remember later, as that first day was coming to a close, standing in the hall outside the rehearsal room, calling Robben's manager, Dal, and leaving him a message on his machine about how very excited I was with what I was hearing.
During the day, not only had he taken a classic 30+ year old song with very distinctive stylings (that bassline can ONLY be one song, instantly recognizable) and breathed new life and warmth into it by retaining the signature elements whilst adding the freshly colorful flavors of Robben's ear & insight, but he had also worked and reworked several other songs into a state of recording readiness.
Two days later, on Wednesday, April 30th, I loaded the gear back out two days ahead of schedule! Robben & John had accomplished and outlined all that they felt was necessary in 3 days.
Now, almost 6 months later, the album prepares for October release.
Before I received my advance copy of the completed album, I noticed that those who HAD heard the final product, consistently said that it was the blusiest thing they had heard from Robben in quite a while.
After hearing it myself, I have to totally agree with them.
It's a blues sound that reminds me in many ways of his 'Blue Line' period, blended with the challenge of a variety of musical styles and tastes (from the 80's pop-rock of Elvis Costello to the soulful funk of the Ojays), to come up with an exciting, fresh, and very listenable collection of songs.... distinctly, enjoyably, Robben, familiar to his fans but also accessable to a wide audience new listeners.
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