By Gerard Haarhuis
Before me lies Randy Lee Riviere ‘s fourth album, “Farmhand Blues.” An album with a significant contribution from Tom Hambridge, both in co-writing several songs with Randy Lee and providing musical support on drums, percussion, and background vocals.
The full line-up is as follows:
– Randy Lee Riviere – vocals and guitar
– Doug Lancio – guitar
– Bob Britt – guitar
– Michael Saint-Leon – guitar and harmonica
– Mike Rojas – keyboards
– Robert Kearns – bass
– Tom Hambridge – drums, percussion and background vocals.
The album was recorded and finished in Nashville, Tennessee, and has just been released on Wilderness Records when this review appears on Bluestownmusic.nl.
After his previous albums, “Wyoming” from 2019, “Blues Sky” from 2021, and “Concrete Blues” from 2024, I have a good idea of what we can expect from Randy Lee Riviere’s new album . One thing I know for sure: “Farmhand Blues” is a full 15-track album!
A “serious” warning upfront: In the USA, this album won’t get clearance from the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission—I’d almost say something like the League Against Swearing—because the album’s lyrics contain “inappropriate” words, yeah…! And what are those words? – piss jar, shitty, and bastard. Well, well, it’s something with those hypocritical Americans. “Grab them by the pussy,” and then these kinds of evocative words that “clarify” the lyrics, no! Music!
Described in the bio as a tempo-driven, “fun” blues rocker that should get folks off their feet and onto the dance floor! And indeed, the atmosphere is set right away. Powered by pounding drums, shredding guitars, and Randy Lee’s deep, rough voice . Also from the bio: “It’s about this mountain man who comes out of the woods, into Downtown , with a stack of songs and goes Downtown “where the music sounds so fine and I can show off some of mine.” A justification for releasing this album. Nothing to add. Delicious, rough blues rock!
And then Big On A Bender . With a repetitive “did you ever?” followed by a question, asking if something like this has ever happened to you? A nice, thumping rhythm. And I, as a down-to-earth Dutchman, find the question “Ever need a piss jar handcuffed in the backseat of a police car” quite funny, actually quite normal, because imagine being there like that while your heart desperately needs to pee. You can hardly let it go, can you? And then you get another charge! So conceivable! Just for this reason alone, in solidarity with Randy Lee: Top!
The title song, “Farmhand Blues ,” is a genuine, powerful guitar blues. Great solos you can really get lost in. A traditional “farmer” story, and on a blues album, that naturally leads to a very fine “Farmhand Blues.” Short but powerful. A complete transition to a calmer, almost fairytale-like “Bird Watchin’.” Randy Lee sees them in all sorts of colors during his “Bird Watchin’,” red and blue, orange and white too. Jingling sounds like a mobile in the tree, although that actually scares the birds away, so the jingling sounds in this song must be intended differently. This song is an odd one out… but that’s probably because a duck is a bit of a “different” bird after all…
Alabama ! I already thought Randy Lee’s voice resembled Neil Young’s. Well, the music sounds like Crazy Horse. Nice, massive sawing guitars and dull, pounding drums. But aside from the title, “Alabama,” there are no other similarities with Neil Young’s song. This is just a big , fat, straightforward guitar blues, short solos, some background vocals, and just stomp!
A country-rocky opening to Linden Lane , with a story about, among other things, Grandma and Grandpa at Linden Farm. Really great guitar! Grandma and Grandpa made you feel at home; they took care of everything. Beautiful country-rock, sung with care. Linden Lane. It fades away nicely. An evening encounter with a “mystery lady” forms the basis for the story in this song, “Moonlight.” Nice, flowing guitar that comes to the forefront at the end of each verse. Moonlight, then, with a large instrumental component, and that sounds more than pleasant!
Cynical , a title that perfectly suits Randy Lee’s singing style. The bio calls this song an “acid rocker,” and I can certainly agree with that… With a slightly calmer drumming, the song “rips” along nicely, occasionally accompanied by echoing sounds… A great guitar solo at the end that’s hard to get enough of! Just like me! A piano, keyboards, beautiful drums as a lead-in to If I Were King . A piece of advice for Randy Lee: Stop wishing. Soon the wish will come true and you’ll no longer have a life of your own! So don’t! Just keep being Randy Lee Riviere and keep making great guitar blues albums! Nice, fat slide, after which the piano gives If I Were King a melodic ending, with a short slide at the end!
An acoustic guitar opens “Mother Lee,” a contemplative song that transitions into more intense vocals and ditto accompaniment, in which Randy Lee repeatedly asks, “Don’t you know…?” A beautiful song in which many sacred cows are presented, only to be expertly demolished! “Don’t you know? Can’t you see? Mother Lee?” Wonderful blues! Beautiful, slow, and varied solo. My favorite! Top! A short drum solo at the end. Beautiful.
The day in December 1980 that John Lennon was murdered motivated Randy Lee to write this song, “December 1980.” More along the lines of “Do you remember what you did that day?” A nice blues with a steady drum beat, while the guitar occasionally steps into the foreground, playing an accompanying role. A clever idea. The longest song on this album, at almost 6 minutes, so yes, it meanders pleasantly. Great song! A bit of a Canned Heat ending to the song; they could do that so well, pumping!
A blues album without heartbreak is impossible! “You Ain’t No Loving Woman,” in which Randy Lee lists everything that proves she is “Ain’t No Loving Woman” and he is now so sad. Beautiful. Beautifully sung, too, with a calm, “sad” accompaniment . Because he’s in danger of dozing off after the previous song, Randy Lee picks up the familiar thread again in “Pecos .” A story about his horse, Pecos, although this horse is a bastard—that immediately puts that word in a “better” light. Lovingly sung despite Pecos’s occasional stubborn behavior . Also beautifully interspersed with short guitar solos!
And when life throws you a curveball and you’re on My Way On Down, the devil is hot on your heels, and it’s one big pile of misery, we’re listening to a blues album after all, the guitars ripping and wailing like crazy! And that perfect sound for our ears isn’t getting any worse, no, it just keeps getting better! Even if it means leaving Randy Lee behind on On My Way On Down. Luckily, he’s not alone.
Absolutely delightful blues in “Dovetail Joints,” in which our mountain man describes the value of old-fashioned hard work and the “common man” you could rely on. “4th of July” also makes an appearance. A worthy closing track to this fine album, “Farmhand Blues,” by Randy Lee Riviere.
A solid album, lots of guitars, Randy Lee’s coffee-brown voice, sometimes quite heavy, which wouldn’t have been necessary everywhere, but, very dull again: It’s a matter of taste. Fans of guitar rock and guitar blues will be spoiled with this album. Well-designed songs with truly wonderful guitar sounds and solos!!!
Appropriate photography on all sides of the cover. Also beautiful.
My favorite: Mother Lee.