Steve Arvey

By Brian Sidler Former Music Writer For Chicago Music Magazine Publicist for Worldwide TMA and Bittersweet Records Co 3950 N. Lakeshore Dr. #2310 Chicago, IL 60613 Bittersweet Records Co. releases: Steve Arvey X (ten) 7 April 2010 (Chicago, IL and Tampa Bay, FL) Lots of rockers out there, lots of blues cats too. Well what about this Steve Arvey guy? Really, what's so special about'em anyway? So what if he's been a bar-room headliner all over the world, what's the big deal, eh? I once wrote t...

By Brian Sidler Former Music Writer For Chicago Music Magazine Publicist for Worldwide TMA and Bittersweet Records Co 3950 N. Lakeshore Dr. #2310 Chicago, IL 60613 Bittersweet Records Co. releases: Steve Arvey X (ten) 7 April 2010 (Chicago, IL and Tampa Bay, FL) Lots of rockers out there, lots of blues cats too. Well what about this Steve Arvey guy? Really, what's so special about'em anyway? So what if he's been a bar-room headliner all over the world, what's the big deal, eh? I once wrote that Eric Clapton (knowing the man's true humility as a musician) would have been at one point in his career, envious of the experiences surrounding the career of Steve Arvey. Steve has played with and/or been a sideman for one of the most impressive lists of famous bluesmen in the modern history of the blues. He's known by many more than those he's gigged alongside of and if nothing else, that alone would distinguish him as a world class performer. But there's also the fact that he's recorded nine previous albums which have all been met with critical praise from press and the masses on 3 different continents and one big island. It's a major part of how Arvey's stayed in the business of making music. So here comes the album: Steve Arvey X! (see attached one sheet) Arvey sings with an honesty that is refreshing and real. Nothing is more fun for us at Bittersweet than listening to Steve when he's singing with that characteristically clear sarcasm, and just the right amount of gravel. It's one of the reasons we produce him in the first place! Steve Arvey is one of those guys you can't help but love listening to because he's so full of the devilish prankster it makes you laugh, especially if you know him. Over there on the sod in England, fans hoot in the bar rooms all night long. Leading off this collection with a cover of Simon Burett's “Bar Room Blues” is fitting considering where Steve's been. As soon as the needle hits the wax (or the mouse pointer hits play), Arvey followers everywhere instantly know they're being led on that familiar journey which all have come to love him for. Steve describes this album as “ten of his most favorite tunes” though there probably are many others. He attacks this subject with a realness that is easily palpable when it comes over the speakers. Upon listening to the opening cut, one can't help but grin a little as Steve's vocal cuts in. It's just sooooooooo…Arvey! And as you cruise the tracks throughout the rest of the offering, you'll run across some well placed musical quotes worth quoting. All of it adds up as an eclectic mix of Steve's wide musical vocabulary X's mixes are true to the ensemble that recorded them. No tricks or gimmicks. Straight full on instrumentation laced with great electric dobro work from Damon Fowler sets this album apart from Steve's other works in that it hits all the buttons of Americana, blues, bluegrass, folk, straight ahead rock, and then fills in with a couple well done ballads, one of which made musictampabay.com's number one slot. It's a cut called “Dreams We Left Behind”. 3950 N. Lakeshore Dr. #2310 Chicago, IL 60613 Another of the fun things about this album are the solid backing vocals of Rebecca Bird on tracks one and two which fill the cuts with a life not heard in other albums by this renown globetrotter. Becky's got soul and we like how she's layered in behind Steve here, which demonstrates the good taste Steve uses when he's mixing. She gives the album a certain joy of recording and there's something in her a bit Stevie Nicks but definitely not a mimic. It works. There's also two really fun cuts penned by a couple of close friends that have been a constant influence on Steve throughout his career, and in Arvey's well known humility he pays tribute to both of them. “Marry Me” in the number ten slot, written with John “Doc” Villardo and native Italian buddy, Ruben Minuto, which had been a well played cut on Italian networks in support of one of Arvey's recent tours to Italy. And last but not least “Venice Beach” in the number two slot. Rolling out on the four's, it was written and recorded previously by another Bittersweet Records original – Scott Pollack of Dr. 8. No matter what you call this album in terms of trying to fit it into a genre, there's a warmth in this collection that always accompanies a production from this artist. We're very proud of it. Void of too many effects, Steve Arvey X is an album that delivers a great listen with something only one artist in the world we know has in such measure as Steve Arvey and that thing is “one big smiling heart.” If there was just one word we could use to describe it – Arvey! I'm Brian Sidler and I write about music, et al. More Info? email Brian Sidler/Publicist: bsidler@worldwidetalentmanagementassociates.com A Bittersweet Records Co. 2010 release http://www.worldwidetalentmanagementassociates.com/images/scat.htm