Product Description
KID RAMOS - STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING
FEATURING BRIAN TEMPLETON AND JOHNNY RAMOS
COMING MARCH 21, 2025, RESERVE YOUR COPY TODAY!
KID RAMOS
Strange Things Happening
Nola Blue Records
Unstated album subtitle: The Kid and Friends Go to Church.
David “Kid” Ramos has been a praised guitarist since his early days with the James Harman Band. (In my opinion, that band with Hollywood Fats also plying guitar was one of the best West Coast blues bands – in fact, one of the best blues bands – ever.) Ramos was a main principal with Roomful of Blues, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Los Fabulocos, and most recently The Proven Ones. Along the way he has been nominated for 13 Blues Music Awards, including six for Guitarist of the Year.
As Ramos declares in the liner notes of his first album in seven years, “These songs have meaning and they’re played from the heart.” In a full hour, Ramos covers a dozen songs emphasizing his apparently deeply held Christian beliefs, ranging in style from blues to gospel to rock. A distinguished group of musicians grace the tracks. Keyboards are handled by Dave Limina, bass by Mike Turturro, and percussion by Stephen Hodges, all of whose past credentials are stellar. Most of the vocals are courtesy of fellow Proven Ones singer Brian Templeton, who also composed two of the numbers and adds harmonica riffs. Ramos’ son Johnny Ramos takes the spotlight on four vocals, and Kid lends his pipes on one.
The set commences with two rousing shuffles: the title track, by the late, massively influential gospel and rock guitar eminence Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and “How I Got Over,” by gospel icon Clara Ward of the Famous Ward Singers. The rhythm section is crisp and exuberant, and Templeton’s vocals are powerful and insistent; his singing reminds me of that of fellow contemporary soul blues singer Sugaray Rayford.
Ramos refrains from guitar pyrotechnics, but on the full-on gospel number, “I’m Working On A Building,” he fully emerges to deliver some irresistible riffs while trading solos with Limina on organ. It got me up and testifyin’! Shortly after, Johnny Ramos debuts on the slow gospel blues “Oh What A Meeting.” His high alto vocal meshes with dad’s beautiful guitar playing. Johnny again excels on the slow track “God Walks The Dark Hills,” and on “Satan’s Jeweled Crown,” a Latino-flavored cut with accordion by Jesse Cuevas and with Kid playing the guitar-related bajo sexto.
Johnny’s other appearance is on “More Love More Power,” Kid adding a backing vocal. That particular track evokes comparison to the uplifting quality of several songs on George Harrison’s classic 1970 album All Things Must Pass, especially the song “My Sweet Lord,” and also to the wonderful track “Fare Thee Well” on the 2014 Nick Moss Band blues album Time Ain’t Free. (If you don’t know that song, with awesome vocals by the late Michael Ledbetter, check it out!)
One’s spiritual proclivities don’t have to align with Kid Ramos’ to enjoy this album. The dedication and devotion are inspiring, and the musicianship is top-notch.
– Dan Stevens