Stevie DuPree and the Delta Flyers: Dr. DuPree’s Love Shop Review
From New Orleans to Chicago and Texas, Stevie DuPree & The Delta Flyers explore numerous styles of blues in their fourth studio album, Dr. DuPree’s Love Shop.
The album kicks off with a classic blues shuffle in “Broke Up” and is followed by a funky New Orleans inspired blues, “First Dance,” that features a fabulous Lee Allen inspired sax solo by Texas tenor great John Mills. “My Angel of Mercy” is a haunting ballad, featuring a mellow and heartfelt guitar solo from Travis Stephenson. The most radio friendly tune is “The Witness Tree,” a beautiful country-inspired ballad, featuring DuPree’s best Willie Nelson inspired vocals and yet another John Mills sax solo sure to hit you in the soul. There isn’t a weak track on the record. Most of the rest are solid blues-shuffles that are sure to keep the listener’s foot tapping for all 45 minutes of this album.
There is not much to criticize about this album. At times, Stephenson’s guitar playing is a wee bit predictable (particularly on “Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog”), but at other times it’s very powerful. The Texas Horns provided a welcome accent to the album an it would have been nice to hear them on a few more tracks. That being said, the groove hard, the lyrics speak to the heart, DuPree’s husky and powerful delivery packs the punch that so many vocalists long for. The band is held together Nick Connolly and Marcia Bell on keys, Quentin Calva on bass and Steve Bundrick and drums. The album is an inspiring performance that contains influences from Texas to Chicago, New Orleans to Memphis, but is sure to strike the soul of the universal listener.
The Review: 8.5/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– First Dance
– Dr. DuPree’s Love Shop
– My Angel of Mercy
– The Witness Tree
The Big Hit
– The Witness Tree
Review by Nik Rodewald
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