REVIEW: Billy Burnette, Are You With Me Baby (Free Falls)
- Bill Holmes
When your father and uncle are Dorsey and Johnny Burnette of The Rock And Roll Trio, you grow up breathing music. And when the very word "rockabilly" is derived from your name (along with that of cousin Rocky), your path is clear. But despite several releases and years as a busy songwriter and performer, Burnette's highest profile gig was probably the several years spent in the last incarnation of Fleetwood Mac (post-Buckingham/Nicks, pre-reunion). In hindsight, that must have been as attractive of a career move as replacing Keith Richards in the Rolling Stones; no contribution would ever erase the burden of following in Lindsay Buckingham's footprints. So back to his roots he went, and found that they not only fit like an old shoe, but he'd also learned a few new steps.
Interestingly enough, the least successful material on this record emulates that Fleetwood Mac style of play - for example, the guitar arpeggios that open "Highway Of Love" have Buckingham written all over them. When Are You With Me Baby is at its peak - and that happens frequently - is when Burnette and company lock into a groove and just let it rip. Rafe Van Hoy and Burnette favor a simple and clean production technique which lets songs like "Gimme You" and "Didn't Start Livin'" rock out as much as the cover of the Trio's "Believe What You Say". Just as effective are the mid-tempo rockabilly numbers like "What A Woman Feels", "Too Much Information" and "Love Me Back"; their hiccup-vocal, slap-bass sound recalls early Elvis (down to Kenny Vaughn's Scotty Moore licks on latter tune). Burnette is in strong voice throughout, and the band (also featuring Dave Roe on stand up bass and the underrated Ian Wallace on drums) sound like they're smiling ear-to-ear.
Burnette dedicated this record to his famous father and uncle, promising to keep the spirit of their music alive in the new Millennium. Pedigree notwithstanding, the fact that the vintage "Believe What You Say" fits well alongside Billy's self-penned tracks might be the best validation of that promise. File this highly enjoyable record alongside your Dave Edmunds, Robert Gordon and Fabulous Thunderbirds records. Better yet, slap them all into a CD changer, hit shuffle-play and turn it up! (http://www.freefalls.com)
