Li'l Chuck the One Man Skiffle Machine - Utility Blues (2017)

Tracklist

01. All That Glitters (Is Not Gold)
02. Good Time Mama
03. Sixteen Tons
04. Stick It in Your Pipe and Smoke It
05. Heartache, Heartbreak
06. Whiskey and Ginger
07. You Make Me Sing (A Minor Swing)
08. Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don't
09. Utility Blues
10. Queen of Home Baking
11. Honey Leave Your Porch Light On
12. I Call on Jimmy Reed



Li’l Chuck – The One Man Skiffle Machine, according to the print on the back of his Utility Blues CD case, is “a genuine one man band, cranking out good time music in an old time style.” Having listened to Utility Blues a handful of times over the past two weeks or so, I can say that the above is a fair assessment of what Li’l Chuck does. And if, like me, you are a sucker for quality music coming out of the international one-man band scene, this New Zealand-based artist very well may be one that you can appreciate.

Inspired by many years of exploring the music of the ‘20s, ‘30s, 40’s and ‘50s - blues, early jazz, western swing, ragtime, country, folk, etc – Li’l Chuck developed his own sound, which borrows from all of those styles. He creates this sound of his by using the harmonica, resonator guitar, kick drum, hi-hat, kazoo, and his strong vocals. He does plays them all simultaneously – a true multi-instrumentalist and multi-tasker in addition to a talented artist.

Utility Blues consists of eleven Li’l Chuck originals and one cover, “Sixteen Tons” by Merle Travis. Standouts among the former include “Stick It in Your Pipe and Smoke It,” “Whiskey and Ginger,” “Utility Blues,” “Honey Leave Your Porch Light on,” and “I Call on Jimmy Reed.”

All of the songs on Utility Blues were recorded live in the studio, with all instruments played simultaneously.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]