Grady Champion - One Of A Kind (2016)

The 12-tracks on the CD has three breakout songs (including “Move Something”) favored by Triple A, Urban AC, college radio and the Music Choice channel. SiriusXM Radio has picked up the tracks “House Party” and title song “One Of A Kind”, on their playlists. Champion is known for describing himself as “just a regular down home country boy”. Do not be fooled! Grady music is procured as though it were a science. As a businessman and master producer, Grady’s passion for the Blues, along with his systematic devotion to his crafting his blues style and methodical hard work are evident in One of a Kind. In his arsenal of players for One Of A Kind, Grady has summoned some of the baddest Blues guitarists our nation currently has. Blues Rocker, Elvin Bishop, the Stylized Blues Funk of Eddie Cotton. Jr., Southern Soul of Theodis Easley, and Blues Blazer, Mr. Sipp, are distinctively heard on the tracks. In addition to superb percussions, keys, bass and horns are layers of backup vocal arrangements united to enliven Grady Champion’s gritty vocal delivery.

If at anytime l perceived a new album from Grady Champion was going to be just a great Southern inspired Blues album this knocked me down, picked me up and knocked me down again. How could l even consider that it would just follow on from "Bootleg Whiskey" in the same mode. I couldn't and shouldn't have even thought that because "One OF A Kind" simply knocked me down numerous times and slapped me around the head such was the impact on me. Wow where do you start with this album, l am flabbergasted with the sheer majesty and brilliance of it. The songs written by Grady Champion and others are sheer musical masterpieces with exactly the right band to bring it home. From start to finish, top to bottom there is so much to tantalise and mesmerize here. Champion and a band of musical geniuses have collaborated to produce an album for the ages. Stunningly crafted songs are melded with THAT band and Champions chameleon like voice to produce an album that give so much more with every listen. With so many highs there should be lows you may think but trust me when l say there are absolutely none at all. Rap music's loss has been unquestionably a wonderful win for the Blues and thankfully Grady Champion has taken that path and we the listeners with him on this undeniably brilliant journey.

TRACKLIST

01. Bump and Grind
02. Heels and Hips
03. House Party
04. Life Support
05. Leave Here Running
06. Move Something
07. One of a Kind
08. Stone In My Path
09. Thin Line
10. What a Woman
11. When I'm Gone
12. GC Boogie