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Record Collector Magazine ***
(click here for the original review) |
Adam Franklin-Outside Man
Affectionate acoustic blues from West Sussex
Not to be confused with the former Swervedriver frontman, Adam Franklin is an English acoustic blues man and familiar face on the British folk scene. Recorded live in Germany, Outside Man is a warm, intimate offering from Germany’s Blind Lemon Records, a young label fanatical about acoustic blues.
While this is never going to change your life, the affection with which this collection of covers and originals is delivered is a joy in itself. Franklin’s exemplary resonator picking and slide playing demonstrates a dedication to the instrument that would be the envy of some of the legends he emulates. His own Jazz Hole Boogie (Franklin is a fan of the double entendre!) slinks and jumps with his dizzying picking, while the title track is a response to The Kinks’ I’m Not Like Everybody Else. Robert Johnson provides a brace of cuts in Terraplane Blues and Love In Vain, the latter featuring some sterling harmonica courtesy of Thomas Freund. There are songs from Blind Boy Fuller, Willie Harris, Son House and Jelly Roll Morton, and as the evening progresses, so the tempo rises; with it the sense of delight that can only come from playing music you love. ***
Blind Lemon Records | BLRCD 1503 (CD)
Affectionate acoustic blues from West Sussex
Not to be confused with the former Swervedriver frontman, Adam Franklin is an English acoustic blues man and familiar face on the British folk scene. Recorded live in Germany, Outside Man is a warm, intimate offering from Germany’s Blind Lemon Records, a young label fanatical about acoustic blues.
While this is never going to change your life, the affection with which this collection of covers and originals is delivered is a joy in itself. Franklin’s exemplary resonator picking and slide playing demonstrates a dedication to the instrument that would be the envy of some of the legends he emulates. His own Jazz Hole Boogie (Franklin is a fan of the double entendre!) slinks and jumps with his dizzying picking, while the title track is a response to The Kinks’ I’m Not Like Everybody Else. Robert Johnson provides a brace of cuts in Terraplane Blues and Love In Vain, the latter featuring some sterling harmonica courtesy of Thomas Freund. There are songs from Blind Boy Fuller, Willie Harris, Son House and Jelly Roll Morton, and as the evening progresses, so the tempo rises; with it the sense of delight that can only come from playing music you love. ***
Blind Lemon Records | BLRCD 1503 (CD)
Blues & Rhythm Magazine-issue 308
ADAM FRANKLIN: Outside Man
Blind Lemon Records BLRCD 1503 (65:41)
Although he’s an Englishman, I must admit Adam Franklin is not a name I am familiar with. ‘Outside Man’ was recorded live in Germany (both sets were recorded at Schwarzes Ross in Bookholzberg which I believe is in Lower Saxony in the district of Oldenburg) and issued on a German Blind Lemon label.
If I had to draw a parallel it would be with Mike Cooper, at least the Mike Cooper whose 1969 release ‘Oh Really’ I was mightily impressed with, and I think is still lurking somewhere among my vinyl. He plays a mixture of original material and covers, including a brace by Robert Johnson, ditto Tampa Red, Duster Bennett, Willie Harris, Little Walter, and others. Franklin is undoubtedly a virtuoso picker on National and standard acoustic guitars, and also is a dab hand on the ukulele, and vocally doesn’t attempt to overstretch himself. Thomas Freund blows harp on a couple of numbers.
Recommended cuts are Duster’s ‘Jumpin’ At Shadows’; the slide showcase ‘Never Drive a Stranger From Your Door’; his own original ‘Jazz Hole Boogie’; a rollicking version of ‘Tell Me Mama’; and Jelly Roll Morton’s ‘Dr Jazz’. However there is not a weak track on this big-value, 21-track set.
For budding guitarists, the booklet includes the tuning and key each number is played in, with notes in English and German. If contemporary acoustic pickers are your thing, then this fine set is definitely worth investigating.
If I had to choose only one of the CDs above, it would be Adam Franklin’s set.
www.blindlemonrecords.de is the place to go for further information about both these albums, and other releases in their catalogue.
Phil Wight
ADAM FRANKLIN: Outside Man
Blind Lemon Records BLRCD 1503 (65:41)
Although he’s an Englishman, I must admit Adam Franklin is not a name I am familiar with. ‘Outside Man’ was recorded live in Germany (both sets were recorded at Schwarzes Ross in Bookholzberg which I believe is in Lower Saxony in the district of Oldenburg) and issued on a German Blind Lemon label.
If I had to draw a parallel it would be with Mike Cooper, at least the Mike Cooper whose 1969 release ‘Oh Really’ I was mightily impressed with, and I think is still lurking somewhere among my vinyl. He plays a mixture of original material and covers, including a brace by Robert Johnson, ditto Tampa Red, Duster Bennett, Willie Harris, Little Walter, and others. Franklin is undoubtedly a virtuoso picker on National and standard acoustic guitars, and also is a dab hand on the ukulele, and vocally doesn’t attempt to overstretch himself. Thomas Freund blows harp on a couple of numbers.
Recommended cuts are Duster’s ‘Jumpin’ At Shadows’; the slide showcase ‘Never Drive a Stranger From Your Door’; his own original ‘Jazz Hole Boogie’; a rollicking version of ‘Tell Me Mama’; and Jelly Roll Morton’s ‘Dr Jazz’. However there is not a weak track on this big-value, 21-track set.
For budding guitarists, the booklet includes the tuning and key each number is played in, with notes in English and German. If contemporary acoustic pickers are your thing, then this fine set is definitely worth investigating.
If I had to choose only one of the CDs above, it would be Adam Franklin’s set.
www.blindlemonrecords.de is the place to go for further information about both these albums, and other releases in their catalogue.
Phil Wight
Blues Blast Magazine
(click here to see the original review)
Adam Franklin - Outside Man
Blind Lemon Records BLR-CD1503
21 songs – 66 minutes
Here’s a truly interesting treat: an album of acoustic blues recorded live in Germany by Englishman Adam Franklin, who executes this collection of 13 covers and eight originals flawlessly as he breathes new life into the 100-year-old art form that remains vital, but has been overwhelmed by electric blues on American shores.
Best known in the U.S. for his work in a duo with Seattle-based guitar master Del Rey, Franklin possesses a soulful, powerful tenor as he accompanies himself on resonator guitar in multiple tunings in stylings ranging from claw-hammer and finger-picking to slide and doubling on ukulele. Not to be confused with a Brit with the same name who fronted the rock band Swervedriver, he’s the son of a jazz musician from Sussex who conducts frequent workshops.
Captured before a live audience at the Schwarze Ross in Bookholzberg, Germany, on the final night of a European tour and released on Blind Lemon Records, a label that quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of acoustic blues, Outside Man features Franklin solo throughout with the exception of an assist from harmonica player Thomas Freund on the closing two cuts, and it’s accompanied by detailed liner notes in both English and German.
The disc kicks off with the Franklin original, “I’m Walkin’,” about surviving life without a car. It comes across flawlessly with the feel of a tune that could have been written in the 1920s. Next up is a treatment of “Jumpin’ At Shadows,” a hit in the ‘60s for Duster Bennett, the Brit bluesman who died in a car wreck before age 30.
Two tunes from the first generation of blues superstars — Willie Harris’ “New Drive A Stranger From Your Door” and Blind Boy Fuller’s “Catman Blues” – follow before the original, “Tucking With My Baby (On A Friday Night),” which saw former life on Franklin’s last studio album. Next up is “Teaching Rag/I’m Gonna Get High,” which combines a song Adam wrote as an instructional piece for fingerpicking students and a melody first set down by Tampa Red.
Robert Johnson’s “Terraplane Blues” before two more originals – the ukulele-driven “Crazy, Crazy Baby” and the cover tune “Outside Man,” inspired by Ray Davies’ “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” – flow seamlessly. Tampa Red’s “You Can’t Get That Stuff No More” and Washboard Sam’s “Tell Me Mama” sandwich the risqué original, “Jazz Hole Boogie,” about a pair of lovers looking for a place for romance.
Washboard Sam’s “Tell Me Mama” and Fuller’s familiar “Walking My Troubles Away” pave the way for the original, “Jackie Nunn,” written as a tribute to a trumpet player who was a good friend of Franklin’s father. A medley of “Summertime/St. James Infirmary” follows before Adam delivers the instrumental “Steve’s Train,” penned to honor U.S. singer-songwriter Steve James, a longtime Franklin favorite, before five more covers — Bo Carter’s “I Want You To Know,” Jelly Roll Morton’s “Dr. Jazz,” Son House’s “Preaching Blues,” Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Cross Your Heart” and Johnson’s “Love In Vain” – bring the set to a close.
Available through Germany’s www.bear-family.com or directly from the artist, Outside Man is definitely worth the effort to acquire if your tastes run to acoustic blues. It’s a warm, rich production from an artist and label that truly understand and love the medium.
(click here to see the original review)
Adam Franklin - Outside Man
Blind Lemon Records BLR-CD1503
21 songs – 66 minutes
Here’s a truly interesting treat: an album of acoustic blues recorded live in Germany by Englishman Adam Franklin, who executes this collection of 13 covers and eight originals flawlessly as he breathes new life into the 100-year-old art form that remains vital, but has been overwhelmed by electric blues on American shores.
Best known in the U.S. for his work in a duo with Seattle-based guitar master Del Rey, Franklin possesses a soulful, powerful tenor as he accompanies himself on resonator guitar in multiple tunings in stylings ranging from claw-hammer and finger-picking to slide and doubling on ukulele. Not to be confused with a Brit with the same name who fronted the rock band Swervedriver, he’s the son of a jazz musician from Sussex who conducts frequent workshops.
Captured before a live audience at the Schwarze Ross in Bookholzberg, Germany, on the final night of a European tour and released on Blind Lemon Records, a label that quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the world of acoustic blues, Outside Man features Franklin solo throughout with the exception of an assist from harmonica player Thomas Freund on the closing two cuts, and it’s accompanied by detailed liner notes in both English and German.
The disc kicks off with the Franklin original, “I’m Walkin’,” about surviving life without a car. It comes across flawlessly with the feel of a tune that could have been written in the 1920s. Next up is a treatment of “Jumpin’ At Shadows,” a hit in the ‘60s for Duster Bennett, the Brit bluesman who died in a car wreck before age 30.
Two tunes from the first generation of blues superstars — Willie Harris’ “New Drive A Stranger From Your Door” and Blind Boy Fuller’s “Catman Blues” – follow before the original, “Tucking With My Baby (On A Friday Night),” which saw former life on Franklin’s last studio album. Next up is “Teaching Rag/I’m Gonna Get High,” which combines a song Adam wrote as an instructional piece for fingerpicking students and a melody first set down by Tampa Red.
Robert Johnson’s “Terraplane Blues” before two more originals – the ukulele-driven “Crazy, Crazy Baby” and the cover tune “Outside Man,” inspired by Ray Davies’ “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” – flow seamlessly. Tampa Red’s “You Can’t Get That Stuff No More” and Washboard Sam’s “Tell Me Mama” sandwich the risqué original, “Jazz Hole Boogie,” about a pair of lovers looking for a place for romance.
Washboard Sam’s “Tell Me Mama” and Fuller’s familiar “Walking My Troubles Away” pave the way for the original, “Jackie Nunn,” written as a tribute to a trumpet player who was a good friend of Franklin’s father. A medley of “Summertime/St. James Infirmary” follows before Adam delivers the instrumental “Steve’s Train,” penned to honor U.S. singer-songwriter Steve James, a longtime Franklin favorite, before five more covers — Bo Carter’s “I Want You To Know,” Jelly Roll Morton’s “Dr. Jazz,” Son House’s “Preaching Blues,” Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “Cross Your Heart” and Johnson’s “Love In Vain” – bring the set to a close.
Available through Germany’s www.bear-family.com or directly from the artist, Outside Man is definitely worth the effort to acquire if your tastes run to acoustic blues. It’s a warm, rich production from an artist and label that truly understand and love the medium.
ADAM FRANKLIN
Outside Man Blind
Lemon Records BLR CD 1503
Blues in the South
Adam Franklin is one of Britain’s best kept secrets. Why he is not an acoustic super-star like Doug MacLeod or Catfish Keith is a mystery to me.
Here recorded ‘in concert’ in Germany, Adam unleashes a set that reminds me at times of the virtuosity of the late Bob Brozman without the side journeys into ‘world’ music.
Adam is a self confessed admirer of the old music once made by the likes of Tampa Red, Sam Chatmon, Bo Carter, Son House and others, but writes a lot of stuff himself, always keeping it in the rich tradition of his influences.
Adam is at home on both resonator guitars (National) and regular acoustic guitars, (here on the former) and is something of a virtuoso performer on the ukulele, giving the instrument a work-out on Bo Carter’s ‘I Want You To Know.
Incidentally, although the days of tab booklets accompanying records are long gone, Adam has seen fit (helpfully) to indicate, in in the booklet, the tuning of each instrument played and the key the tune is played in, saving, for some people, a lengthy search process.
Tracks include ‘Never Drive a Stranger From Your Door’ (Vestapol - Key E), the Willie Harris tune, and a frenetic and masterful version of ‘Dr Jazz’ (Standard - Key E) originally written by Ferdinand ‘Jelly Roll Morton, who claimed to be the inventor of jazz! There is a delightful ‘train’ instrumental ‘Steve’s Train’ a tribute to Steve James (Vestapol - Key D) and couple of tracks where Adam’s vocals are supported by some tasty harp work from Thomas Freund.
Outstanding stuff. Get it NOW!
Ian McKenzie-Blues in the South (web-site here....)
Outside Man Blind
Lemon Records BLR CD 1503
Blues in the South
Adam Franklin is one of Britain’s best kept secrets. Why he is not an acoustic super-star like Doug MacLeod or Catfish Keith is a mystery to me.
Here recorded ‘in concert’ in Germany, Adam unleashes a set that reminds me at times of the virtuosity of the late Bob Brozman without the side journeys into ‘world’ music.
Adam is a self confessed admirer of the old music once made by the likes of Tampa Red, Sam Chatmon, Bo Carter, Son House and others, but writes a lot of stuff himself, always keeping it in the rich tradition of his influences.
Adam is at home on both resonator guitars (National) and regular acoustic guitars, (here on the former) and is something of a virtuoso performer on the ukulele, giving the instrument a work-out on Bo Carter’s ‘I Want You To Know.
Incidentally, although the days of tab booklets accompanying records are long gone, Adam has seen fit (helpfully) to indicate, in in the booklet, the tuning of each instrument played and the key the tune is played in, saving, for some people, a lengthy search process.
Tracks include ‘Never Drive a Stranger From Your Door’ (Vestapol - Key E), the Willie Harris tune, and a frenetic and masterful version of ‘Dr Jazz’ (Standard - Key E) originally written by Ferdinand ‘Jelly Roll Morton, who claimed to be the inventor of jazz! There is a delightful ‘train’ instrumental ‘Steve’s Train’ a tribute to Steve James (Vestapol - Key D) and couple of tracks where Adam’s vocals are supported by some tasty harp work from Thomas Freund.
Outstanding stuff. Get it NOW!
Ian McKenzie-Blues in the South (web-site here....)
Blues News-Marc Winter. (web-site here....)
Adam Franklin-Outside Man-Blind Lemon Records
(translated from the original German text)
"You Can’t Get That Stuff No More"
Thomas Schleiken and his 2012 established label, "Blind Lemon Records", present the extremely listenable new album by Adam Franklin. With this album, the label’s tenth, Blind Lemon Records has strengthened it’s position as the top dog for Roots Blues, Country Blues or, as on the publisher's website says: "Acoustic blues and related genres." From the Englishman Adam Franklin shows here the impressive fruits of his amazing change from British to Delta Bluesman.
With this album, Thomas Schleiken goes further than the Scout with the special nose or ear. The album sounds simply perfect, in that it is not overproduced, but simply and clearly a rehearsed live recording without overdubs and other acoustic re-touches. This means that the guitars, any other instruments and the voice can be heard as the artist has recorded this evening: direct, honest and straightforward, and when the singer bends back his head, the sound is just quieter. Then there are the tasty cover photos. This is a monochrome photo with the gentle old-fashioned sepia tone, the image goes to the heart: a man with his National resonator guitar, nothing to gloss over, nothing to hide: honest blues. The only clue that this is not from the 1930s, are the sneakers and the watch.
Adam Franklin is the son of a jazz musician, playing guitar in open and standard tunings, also two songs feature the ukulele. He is an outstanding instrumentalist, but perhaps even more impressive is his singing: Adam Franklin sings as perfect as a Southern-American, so much so that when he speaks between each song, you are surprised when his English accent comes forth again. The man has trained real bilingualism.
Adam plays and sings a mix of covers and original compositions. The covers access the entire tradition of Jelly Roll Morton Dr. Jazz, Blind Boy Fuller Catman Blues to Terraplane Blues by Robert Johnson. Also Summertime and St. James Infirmary are presented. The originals are in the style and feel of the historical models and their own lyrics fit seamlessly into cover and back. When listening my mouth was always open, feet bobbing. The audience in the "Schwarzen Ross" in Bookholzberg were impressed this evening: During the songs they are completely silent and after the songs, the sound of applause seems increasingly frenetic. Let's hope that Adam Franklin soon arrives here in Switzerland and his wonderful handmade music is here for good.
This CD is bringing an old kind of Blues re-heard, with a lot of expertise and timeless production. So when Adam Franklin sings, "You Can not Get That Stuff No More", so you have to agree!
Marc Winter-Blues News-2016
Review by Roger Mollinder, Blues Journal.
’Til I Hear You Talkin’ released on CD and vinyl 2012 by Waxy Records (Waxy 006-V)
Adam Franklin-Guitar, Ukulele & Vocals.
Matt Bezants-harp, Bob Turner-Mandolin and Ernest Roberts-guitar on 'Swing Sweetie'.
In my book the British artist Adam Franklin should be a national treasure, it should be Sir Adam Franklin! I’ll have a few words with Queen Elizabeth on this matter.
Seriously speaking, I do believe that this great artist like so many others does not get as much attention as he deserves. The genre acoustic/unplugged blues is very narrow and I wish it could be wider. This is real music played by real musicians who’s trying to make a living, doing what they love, doing that they are burning for.
I am very impressed by Adam Franklin. He is the real deal. What a superb guitarist, ukulele player and singer he is. How I wish I could play like him. I also have to say that he is a very good song writer; seven of the songs are
written by Adam.
Unfortunately there are a lot of listeners out there who are stuck with what I call dead music made up by record companies who wants to brain wash their listeners, making them believe that the music they are selling is the only one existing. Everything can be sold with the right kind of commercial.
Think outside the box and go out there and find new music, new artists, you might find them just around the corner.
Check Adam Franklin out at: http://www.adamfranklinblues.com/index.html because he sure is worth it.
Matt Bezants-harp, Bob Turner-Mandolin and Ernest Roberts-guitar on 'Swing Sweetie'.
In my book the British artist Adam Franklin should be a national treasure, it should be Sir Adam Franklin! I’ll have a few words with Queen Elizabeth on this matter.
Seriously speaking, I do believe that this great artist like so many others does not get as much attention as he deserves. The genre acoustic/unplugged blues is very narrow and I wish it could be wider. This is real music played by real musicians who’s trying to make a living, doing what they love, doing that they are burning for.
I am very impressed by Adam Franklin. He is the real deal. What a superb guitarist, ukulele player and singer he is. How I wish I could play like him. I also have to say that he is a very good song writer; seven of the songs are
written by Adam.
Unfortunately there are a lot of listeners out there who are stuck with what I call dead music made up by record companies who wants to brain wash their listeners, making them believe that the music they are selling is the only one existing. Everything can be sold with the right kind of commercial.
Think outside the box and go out there and find new music, new artists, you might find them just around the corner.
Check Adam Franklin out at: http://www.adamfranklinblues.com/index.html because he sure is worth it.
'Til I Hear You Talkin' one of Blues in The South's Top 30 albums of 2012!
ADAM FRANKLIN - ‘til I Hear You Talkin’
(Vinyl and/or CD)
WAXY RECORDS-Waxy006-v
More than a few years ago, on the now defunct Kicking Mule record label, there was a string of guitar music LPs featuring some of the world’s best fingerstyle guitar players, the likes of Lasse Johansson, Woody Mann, Roy Bookbinder, John James, George Gritzbach and many more. The music was a mixture of blues, Piedmont style ragtime, guitar arrangements of Scott Joplin rags and quirky novelty guitar pieces. This album reminds me strongly of that stuff.
Adam Franklin is an accomplished finger picker and slide player who turns his hands (pun) to all of the above styles, and then some. Not only blues (there is a masterful rendition of Robert Johnson’s “From Four ‘til Late”) but some seriously jazzy picking on “Swing Sweetie” (which feels like a Cab Calloway tune) and on which he finger picks a uke. On many of the tracks, Adam is accompanied by Matt Bezants on harmonica to great effect, as for example, on the fabulous “Tuckin’ With My Baby” and is occasionally joined by Bob Turner on mandolin as in the Sleepy John Estes sounding “Trying To Make A Living.” But don’t be misled by that. It may sound like Mr Estes and his gang, but it’s all Adam. Many of the songs and tunes were written by him and they manage to be both old and fresh at the same time. Quite an achievement.
Go to:http://www.adamfranklinblues.com/music.html to hear some of the music before you buy. But buy it you must. Strongly recommended for the acoustic player inside you!
Ian Mckenzie, Editor, Blues in the South Magazine.
(Vinyl and/or CD)
WAXY RECORDS-Waxy006-v
More than a few years ago, on the now defunct Kicking Mule record label, there was a string of guitar music LPs featuring some of the world’s best fingerstyle guitar players, the likes of Lasse Johansson, Woody Mann, Roy Bookbinder, John James, George Gritzbach and many more. The music was a mixture of blues, Piedmont style ragtime, guitar arrangements of Scott Joplin rags and quirky novelty guitar pieces. This album reminds me strongly of that stuff.
Adam Franklin is an accomplished finger picker and slide player who turns his hands (pun) to all of the above styles, and then some. Not only blues (there is a masterful rendition of Robert Johnson’s “From Four ‘til Late”) but some seriously jazzy picking on “Swing Sweetie” (which feels like a Cab Calloway tune) and on which he finger picks a uke. On many of the tracks, Adam is accompanied by Matt Bezants on harmonica to great effect, as for example, on the fabulous “Tuckin’ With My Baby” and is occasionally joined by Bob Turner on mandolin as in the Sleepy John Estes sounding “Trying To Make A Living.” But don’t be misled by that. It may sound like Mr Estes and his gang, but it’s all Adam. Many of the songs and tunes were written by him and they manage to be both old and fresh at the same time. Quite an achievement.
Go to:http://www.adamfranklinblues.com/music.html to hear some of the music before you buy. But buy it you must. Strongly recommended for the acoustic player inside you!
Ian Mckenzie, Editor, Blues in the South Magazine.
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