Never Been Rocked

On Rocked Enough he teams with Francine Reed (Lyle Lovett's backup singer and an excellent blues musician on her own) to sing I Used to Worry. Those of us of a certain age have to appreciate the irony of these lyrics. Bonnie Raitt guests on two of the songs Good Man, Good woman which received some radio air play and playing slide on Everytime I Roll the Dice. Melissa Etheridge and Tom Petty both make guest appearances as background vocalists.

Delbert falls somewhere in the blues, country, rock genre. Its hard to pin him down exactly, but easy to know a Delbert song when you hear it. Fans of delta and Chicago blues may not appreciate his style.

Born in Lubbock, Texas, Delbert never has tried to stray far from his blues and Western swing roots. He cut his teeth working roadhouses in Texas along the Jacksboro Highway, quietly lining up work as a sideman on other artists' albums. His first CD, VICTIM OF LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES, set the tone for much of his music. Several CDs have followed, including ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW, LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL, HONKY TONK `N BLUES, THE JEALOUS KIND, and 2001's Grammy Award-winning NOTHING PERSONAL.

In NEVER BEEN ROCKED ENOUGH, Delbert kicks off the CD with "Everytime I Roll The Dice", a slow grooving toe-tapper that became a Top Ten hit. "I Used To Worry" is a blues testimonial to the inevitability of the world delivered with a sarcastic wink. In "Miss You Fever", Delbert reaches into his vocals bag to hand out a tune in a hoarse and hurting voice echoing with the haunting feeling of sitting on a barstool far too long hurting the way everyone who has loved and lost hurts. Delbert wrote "Why Me?" and the background vocals are by Tom Petty, and the song kicks up the CD's overall tempo, hooking the listener solidly and reeling him or her in. "Have A Little Faith In Me" brings the listener back to earth, chaining him or her to the softer emotions, and Delbert's harmonica work underscores the hope the words offer. Then Delbert kicks the doors open and delivers "Never Been Rocked Enough", a tune that he wrote and that drives directly to the fun-loving rocker that co-exists with this bluesman extraordinaire. "Blues As Blues Can Get" is a soft and easy blues talker that speaks of pain and loneliness. Moving back into an up-tempo beat, Delbert delivers "Can I Change My Mind" but stays with the insecurity and pain of relationships. Sounding a bit like a gospel song, written by Delbert, "Cease and Desist" is a sexy and fun romp. "Stir It Up" is a cover of a Bob Marley song, and Delbert dishes a soulful sound that warms the heart and inspires hope. Singing with blues sensation Bonnie Raitt, Delbert blasts out "Good Man, Good Woman", which earned both singers a Grammy Award, and ends the CD with a solid blues feel and Delbert's haunting harmonica work.

NEVER BEEN ROCKED ENOUGH is a great addition to any Delbert McClinton sound library lacking this CD. For the blues enthusiast, the CD is also a definite keeper. Fans of Bonnie Raitt's work will definitely want to check out Delbert McClinton because they've both got the same long past deeply enmeshed in the blues scene and constant flirtation with the crossover pop crowd.

"Never Been Rocked Enough" is an absolutely solid album by an absolutely solid performer. Delbert's back-up musicians are as tight as you can expect. The songwriting is a s strong as always and Delbert's singing is absolutely a joy to listen to. As always, his harmonica playing shows the years he's spent perfecting his craft.

This is a very nice effort by a great artist. I definitely recommend it.