Josh Hyde - Into The Soul (2019)

Personnel:
Josh Hyde – guitars, vocals, vibraphone
Joe V. McMahan – guitar, vibraphone
Ron Eoff – bass
Derrek Phillips – drums, percussion
Jimmy Wallace – organ, piano, keyboards
Chris Lippincott – pedal steel

One of the cool things about singer/guitarist/composer Josh Hyde’s latest album, “Into The Soul,” is the fact that it was recorded on a vintage 24-track analog machine once used by Robert Plant, at the Dockside Studios in Maurice, LA. It is something he’d always wanted to do, going into a studio and laying down tracks “as is,” eschewing ProTools and other modern techniques. Whatever methods were used, this is an excellent set. Josh’s soulful delivery gives these eleven tales of love won and lost, as well as much-sought-after redemption, even with a few touches of humor tossed in for good measure, that perfect degree of realism and authenticity.

There were quite a number of highlights. Leading off is one of our favorites, with Jimmy Wallace’s funky keys work spritzing up the slyly-sexy “rock you one good time in my Rockin’ Chair!” Josh’s many trips to Nashville “at the BNA” are documented in “Smile,” while wistful longing for an affair that didn’t last is detailed in the bittersweet tale of “Mardi Gras, ’89,” “Down On Bourbon Street.” Our other favorite rides over a strong, Jimmy Reed-ish loping groove, lovingly referred to by Josh as “Nashville funk,” as he “can’t find Heaven or Hell when you Call My Name.” The melting pot of music that is Louisiana is the guitar-laden story of “Silas Hogan down in catfish town,” and “the Cajuns all gettin’ into that Creole,” and is that place where “All You Need Is Soul.”

Josh Hyde’s vision on this set was to get into a Delbert-styled groove incorporating a lyrical style akin to Lyle Lovett. The result is a great mix of songs headed straight “Into The Soul” of the listener!! Until next time….Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.