After a brief detour with the Bluegills' duet album Meet Me at the Lake, Larry McCray returned to form with the storming Born to Play the Blues. Since his 1991 debut Ambition, McCray has been hailed as one of the great contemporary bluesmen of the '90s, and this record reminds us why. It isn't that he offers any innovations or surprises -- it's that he is a pure, no-nonsense bluesman, delivering solid guitar lines and soulful vocals. McCray also gets credit for not sticking with tried-and-true material, choosing to write his own songs and try out several tunes from Dave Steen and taking a stab at a Warren Hayes cover. Throughout it all, he plays and sings with passion and heart, confirming his position as one of the finest contemporary bluesmen around. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Born to Play the Blues
06/30/1998
All Music Guide Review
Born to Play the Blues Track Listing
Credits of Born to Play the Blues
- Steve McCray
- Drums
- Noel Neal
- Bass
- Jay Newland
- Engineer
- John Snyder
- Producer
- John Kattke
- Piano, Organ (Hammond)
- Jay Burton
- Assistant Engineer
- Malcolm Springer
- Engineer
- Calvin Yarbrough
- Vocals (Background)
- Niles J. Frantz
- Liner Notes
- Kevin Page
- Assistant Engineer
- Steve Devick
- Executive Producer
- Alisa Yarbrough
- Vocals (Background)
- Bob Sunda
- Bass
- Jon Cleary
- Clarinet, Piano, Wurlitzer, Organ (Hammond)
- Tony Daigle
- Mastering, Mixing
- Herman V. Ernest III
- Drums
- Larry McCray
- Guitar, Vocals, Main Performer












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