Robben Ford & The Blue Line - Mystic Mile (1993)

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Robben Ford & The Blue Line - Mystic Mile (1993)

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The Mystic Mile exhibits Robben Ford's precision at playing smooth sophisticated blues. Ford sound is very elegant, modern and unique. This cd may be one of his best, demonstrating his song writing abilities as well as skill with the guitar. Most of the songs are written by Ford and they work cohesively to give the whole cd a somewhat "mystic" sound. The title cut, which wraps up the cd of 10 tracks,is perhaps the most mystical. It creates a vision of a mystic who is watching us, with a "strange sense of humor." Of the cover songs Politician written in '68, by Jack Bruce and Peter Brown is still true and relevant song today of political people trying to work both sides.

If you like a more sophisticated blues with strong guitar work, this is a cd for you.

Review by booknblueslady, Amazon.com

The Robben Ford Story is one of a guitarist who first came to our attention playing in Joni Mitchell’s backing band in the 1970’s and then landed the guitarist spot in Miles Davis’ band. Since then he has carved out a respected solo career that was launched with a terrific debut album Talk To Your Daughter in 1988.

With his band The Blue Line Robben’s third album Mystic Mile continues in the same style of its predecessors Talk To Your Daughter (1988) and Robben Ford And The Blue Line (1992) – largely self penned songs with a few instrumentals and blues covers thrown in. Robben himself handles the lead vocals but this is blues for the new century – the band members are all technical virtuosos in their chosen instrument and apply this to the blues with considerable taste, largely avoiding the plodding blues rhythms that fail to hold my interest throughout many blues albums. Unlike some rock stars play the blues albums these guys are not doing it for a gimmick. Indeed Ford has stuck to this path long enough to suggest that this is his preferred genre.

The album kicks off with He Don’t Play Nothin’ But The Blues, the opening riff somewhat reminiscent of Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing. This is rock with a bluesy tinge. Busted Up has a funky feel to it, helped by a wah-wah on both rhythm and lead guitars. This is followed by Politician, the Cream classic. This is a much more driving version than the original and suits Ford’s flowing lead style perfectly.

Worried Life Blues is a cover of the Big Maceo Merriweather number. It takes a standard blues theme (life is bad) “Oh Lordy Lord……hurts me so bad!” and serves up a slow blues in his own trademark style. A middle and ending guitar solo hold the listener’s interest in this stand-out track, staving off the inevitable onset of depression that accompanies any blues album.

Misdirected Blues follows a 12 bar shuffle style groove with the band playing relaxed and tight. It actually follows and 16 bar pattern and dispenses with the normal I-IV-V chord structure, opting instead for a tasty jazz influenced twist. This sets the background for a corker of a guitar solo. Robben's playing flows freely, and is reminiscent of the best of sax players. He intersperses fast flowing runs with tasty hooks that are so memorable that you can almost sing this solo after one hearing. This is my favourite track on the album and in the pre-digital world that is the end of Side 1.
Side 2 kicks off with Moth to a Flame, and the wah-wah guitar makes another appearance in funky mode. Trying to do the Right Thing (for Anne) is a slow ballad with a slight rumba feel and is followed by Say What’s on Your Mind which complete with horn section would not sound out of place in a Drifter’s album! The Plunge is the only instrumental on this album and the jazz-rock style gives plenty of scope for Ford’s considerable improvised soloing skills. I Don’t Play is a cover of the Willie Dixon tune. The title track – a slow haunting piece, ends the album, and it is the stand-out track on Side 2.

Robben Ford is first and foremost a guitarist rather than a songwriter and his strength lies in the former. Listening to this album from start to finish whilst writing this review, I am struck by the number of diverse musical styles – rock, blues, funk, jazz, latin, soul. Yet the album doesn’t sound disjointed – the arrangements blend the album together as a complete entity.

Review by Amazon.co.uk

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Robben Ford & The Blue Line - Mystic Mile (1993)

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Robben Ford & The Blue Line - Mystic Mile (1993)

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Robben Ford & The Blue Line - Mystic Mile (1993)

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