Music from the yesterdays and today!

Wanna Go Back is Eddie's tribute to his own musical roots and inspirations. His first band, The Grapes of Wrath would play songs such as these in their set all those years ago. The most significant thing about the chosen songs is that they are mainly more soul than rock orientated, which might have been more expected from Eddie, but because of this it makes it a more interesting proposition as the man is pitching himself against some really fine vocalists that featured on the originals. The net result is that Eddie has not taken an easy route on this album and his treatments and vocal performances need to be top drawer. His daughter Jesse, herself taking her first few steps into the music biz helps out vocally on some of the songs.

First up is 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and with Jesse's help Eddie goes for a straightforward reading of the song as per the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell version. It has a genuine soul feel to it and that imparts the energy needed to make the song work as well as it does.  'Higher and Higher' follows and again the energy and joyousness of the original is preserved in this faithful rendition. 'Baby Now That I've Found You' originally by UK band The Foundations sits well in amongst it's US brethren as does their other major hit 'Build Me Up Buttercup' which also get's a careful and respectful reading. The Young Rascals' 'Good Lovin'  is an absolutely spot on recreation of the original, sounding like Eddie is singing with The Rascals themselves! The Soul Survivors 'Expressway To Your Heart' is a good choice in amongst all the others on this set, it fits in well and it's not an overly obvious choice, so full marks there for including it. 'Hold On I'm Comin'' and 'Land Of A Thousand Dances' were staples of many a club and bar band's set in the sixties, you just had to do them, it was expected of you. These songs especially were about the amount of energy you could put into them and impart to your audience, so a studio recording of them can sometimes fall flat just through the sterile surroundings in which they come about. Full credit here as the energy of these songs have been captured and project out of the speakers........just as they should!  Jesse get's to partner dad on their version of 'Mockingbird', in fact, she gets the lead vocal and sounds great. A medley of 'Please Please Please' and 'Baby Don't You Weep'  rounds off this collection of songs in fine soulful style.