Before I get started, I want to share with you this little blurb that I found at Platinum Entertainment's website:

"Larry McCray's first solo effort in five years shows why he is one of the guitar giants of his generation. Combined with his huge, soulful voice and a diverse selection of songs, Larry's blistering guitar work makes this recording one of the most anticipated in the blues world. With BORN TO PLAY THE BLUES, Larry McCray reaffirms his position as a singer and a guitar player of the first rank and a leader in the field of contemporary blues for the twenty-first century."

I am always complaining about labels and PR firms making up wild claims about the artists they represent, but this it's the complete opposite. I am going to nominate whoever wrote that little blurb for a Pulitzer. I just couldn't have said it better.

A few seconds into this CD there are three things that become so obvious that they virtually smack you in the forehead:

1) The man can sing 2) The man can play the guitar like the best 3) The man knows his Blues.

Oh boy. With "Born To Play The Blues" Larry has achieved a pretty much perfect Blues album. It is THAT good. This flavor of the Blues is a little bit different to what I usually listen to (I prefer it loud and slow). Larry's Blues are electric, very upbeat and they have just a little bit of Soul, barely enough to make it different. The mix works to perfection.

Good stuff. And he is really good with that guitar. He sounds a little bit like mixing up Stevie Ray with B.B. King. Never too loud and with very little distortion, just the clean sound of an electric guitar played like the Lord Himself intended it to be.

Again I am in the position where it is nearly impossible to pick a favorite from the twelve tracks. I'll have to say that "I Feel So Damn Good (I'll Be Glad When I Got The Blues)" is just plain awesome. This is when the Soul influence is the most obvious. "I Wonder" has a very interesting 80's feel. The rest of the songs are just great.

This one is a "buy." It has to be one of the finest Blues albums that I have listened to in the last few months. I am confident that most Blues fan will be pleased with it.