Eric Gales – Crown: Album Review

By Howard King on 24th January 2022 • ( Leave a comment )

The brand-new album from Eric Gales, produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, puts him back at the top of the blues tree with a wonderful blend of soulful, funky, rocky blues.

Release date: 28th January 2022

Label: Provoque/Macot Label Group

Format: CD / digital

Mention the words Eric and Blues to me and there’s usually only one name that comes to mind.

Now if Joe Bonamassa claims Eric Gale to be: “one of the best, if not the best in the world,” we need to sit down and listen to this rejuvenated bluesman. He has resurrected his career after staring at the abyss before eventually celebrating recovery after being receiving the Blues Music Award of Blues Rock Artist Of The Year in 2019. Now by telling the heart-rending story of his rejuvenation, his feelings are laid out warts ’n all on this eclectic blues album.

Both he and JB were recognised as child prodigies but whereas JB went on to record stacks of albums, perform around the world with arena-filling tours, Eric – despite the acclaim of the good and great – had spells when he fell by the wayside.

An 18 album career though has culminated currently in his latest album The Crown and we should be grateful his guitar talents have not been wasted. Eric says: “When I play, the core is always the blues, and on this album, we go through a theme park of the blues, exploring all kinds of blues. We visit the carousel, the bumper cars, the water rides, the concession stands, and we all come out with smiles.”

I can guarantee it will be hard to wipe the smile off your face when you hear this. Whether playing intricate fast-fingered solos in Death Of Me, slow hand echoing Hendrix- like riffs in Too Close To The Fire or squaring up to his contemporary Joe Bonamassa on I Want My Crown, Eric gives us not only a tour of his life but of all blues guitar work. A truly musical stupendous phoenix from the ashes tale.

Every track is a blues guitar lesson, with the songs written in collaboration with Josh Smith and Joe and featuring contributions from LaDonna Gales, and ace songwriters such as Tom Hambridge, James House, and Keb Mo.

Eric Gales will be coming to the UK for an 11 date tour in March and April supported by Danny Bryant (current album Rage To Survive reviewed here). These will be awesome must-see gigs!!