Roomful Of Blues: Sugar Ray Norcia (vocals, harmonica); Greg Piccolo (vocals, tenor saxophone); Mac Odom, Curtis Salgado, "Big" Joe Turner (vocals); Chris Vachon, Ronnie Earl Horvath (guitar); Rich Lataille (alto & tenoor saxophones); Kevin May, Doug James (baritone saxophone); Bob Enos, Danny Motta (trumpet); John Wolf, Carl Querfurth, Porky Cohen (trombone); Albert Weisman (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Al Copley, Ron Levy (piano, organ); Matt McCabe (piano); Rory MacLeod, Marty Ballou, Ken "Doc" Grace, Preston Hubbard, Jimmy Wimpfheimer (bass); John Rossi (drums).
Producers: Chris Vahon, Phil Greene, Carl Querfurth, Greg Piccolo, Roomful Of Blues.
Compilation producer: Bob Bell.
Engineers: Phil Greene, Drew Townson, Bruce Tergesen.
Recorded between 1980 and 1998. Includes liner notes by Bob Bell.
Digitally remastered by Laurie B. Flannery (Northeastern Digital Recording).
Personnel: Curtis Salgado, Mac Odom, Sugar Ray Norcia, Big Joe Turner (vocals); Chris Vachon, Ronnie Horvath (guitar); Rich Lataille (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Greg Piccolo (tenor saxophone); Doug James , Kevin May (baritone saxophone); Danny Motta, Bob Enos (trumpet); Porky Cohen, Carl Querfurth (trombone); John Wolf (tenor trombone); Al Copley, Ron Levy (piano, organ); Albert Weisman, Matt McCabe (piano); John Rossi (drums).
Audio Mixers: Gregg Lunsford; Phil Greene; Rob Jaczko.
Liner Note Author: Bob Bell.
Recording information: Blue Jay Recording Studio, Carlisle, MA (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Hit Factory, New York, NY (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Lup's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Newbury Sound, Boston, MA (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Normandy Sound Studios, Warren, RI (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Power Station, New England (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Sonalyst Studios, Waterford, CT (09/10/1980-02/??/1998); Syncro Sound Recorders, Boston, MA (09/10/1980-02/??/1998).
Photographers: Vincent Scarano; Dana Siles; Joe Rosen; Suzie Dittelman; Jean Hangarter; Dana Smith.
This is one of the first volumes in Rounder Records' Rounder Heritage series, which will celebrate the company's 30-year history with a line of 30 releases that dip into the label's deep catalog of blues, folk, and bluegrass recordings. The Blues'll Make You Happy, Too! compiles 14 tracks from various Roomful of Blues albums released over the past 20 years; the collection focuses on the 1990s but includes tracks from as long ago as 1980, just after the departure of guitarist/leader Duke Robillard and his replacement by Ronnie Earl. At this point, the band took on more horns, and its style was subtly redefined. Although production values have changed since that period, the band's overall sound hasn't -- the Roomful's winning combination of blues, soul, R&B and swing remains pretty much the same throughout the program. Singer Sugar Ray Norcia's original jump blues composition from 1996 (the excellent "If You Know It") could have been written 30 years ago, and when the band covers Memphis Slim (with "The Comeback," featuring Mac Odom on vocal) or Duke Ellington (a fine, slinky interpretation of "Jeep's Blues," recorded in 1980), it's with the immediacy and energy of a band delivering its latest composition. This album is an excellent overview of an ensemble that has been making top-notch blues-based music for over 30 years and that shows no signs of slowing down. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson
Professional Reviews
CMJ (11/13/00, p.40) - "...This rock/big band/blues hybrid outfit has consistently delivered foot-stomping songs led by a vibrant, charismatic vocalist..."
Dirty Linen (4-5/01, p.72) - "...Demonstrates how consistent [their] sound has been throughout its long history..."
Living Blues (1-2/01, pp.77-8) - "...A revelation..."
