(2011 'Tonedef') (51:12/11) Ray Bailey, Jahrgang 1956, 'Blues-Wunderkind' aus dem Watts-Distrikt in Los Angeles, begann als Teenager in Bands von Lowell Fulson und Smokey Wilson. 1994 nahm er ein vielversprechendes Album, 'Satan's Horn', auf. Danach began ein langer Leidensweg, an dessen Ende 2007 er durch Feuer und Raub alles, was er besaß, verlor. Er flüchtete sich in Drogen und entkam 2009 nur knapp dem endgültigen Verfall. Nach einem eher schwachen Livealbum zeigt er sich mit dieser CD auf dem Aufstieg. Zehn der elf Titel stammen von ihm. Es ist zwar nicht alles Gold, was hier glänzt, doch bereits ganz okay.

English:
After recording his superb 1994 debut, 'Satan's Horn', he almost disappeared into obscurity. By the Fall of 2007 Ray Bailey, the former Blues Wunderkind, a young man who could write his own ticket with an electric guitar, had suffered through a devastating fire and then the subsequent robbery that took all of his music, recorded and composed, his guitars, his artwork and all of his possessions. Overwhelmed, he sank into drug use and depression. In 2008 Ray Bailey successfully completed a drug rehab program. The following year, he recorded a rather mediocre live album. This new record shows him in much better shape. He's writing his own songs. It's not all gold that shines, but he's on a good way. - Digipak. RAY BAILEY - gtr/voc, JEFF McELROY - bass, LAND RICHARDS - drums. SpeciAL guests: MIKAL MAJEED - kbds, DENIS DePOITRE - hca.