Beth Hart – Bang Bang Boom Boom (2017)

Beth Hart (born January 24, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Los Angeles, California. She rose to fame with the release of her 1999 single “LA Song (Out of This Town)” from her second album Screamin’ for My Supper. The single was a number one hit in New Zealand, as well as reaching the top 5 of the US Adult Contemporary and Top 10 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 charts.

The albums Seesaw and Live in Amsterdam by Hart and Joe Bonamassa debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart, a chart she has now topped six times. Hart has had two number 1 singles in Denmark, “As Good as It Gets” and “Learning to Live”, as well a double platinum-selling album, Leave the Light On.

Hart’s first album with Bonamassa, Don’t Explain, went gold in the Netherlands, while their 2014 collaboration Seesaw was nominated for a Grammy Award, and gave Hart her first Blues Music Award nomination in the category ‘Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist’.

Bang Bang Boom Boom is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Beth Hart, released on October 5, 2012 by Provogue/Mascot Label. (wikipedia)

Beth Hart received a considerable boost from her collaboration with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, but her 2013 album, Bang Bang Boom Boom, finds the blues-rock belter returning to her comfort zone, working with producer Kevin Shirley and running through a selection of songs that are originals; songs that emphasize Hart’s range and power. In some ways, this is the purest record Hart has yet recorded; there is a real sense of what she can sing and how she lays back, waiting for the moment when her wailing would create the strongest disruption.

That means Bang Bang Boom Boom feels familiar without being complacent: there is no surprise in style but rather in attack, how Hart waits for the precise moment to unleash her fury. Sometimes, it seems that Hart would be well-served by stretching herself just a bit, but Bang Bang Boom Boom isn’t an album that’s meant to surprise. It’s supposed to hit its mark with precision and minimal flair, and that’s exactly what it does. [The American edition contains a bonus track: the stellar live version of “I’d Rather Go Blind,” that Hart performed with Jeff Beck at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors in tribute to Buddy Guy. (by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Personnel:
Curt Bisquera (drums)
Joe Bonamassa (guitar)
Lenny Castro (percussion)
Ron Dziubla (saxophone)
Anton Fig (drums)
Randy Flowers (guitar)
Beth Hart (piano, vocals)
Herman Matthews (drums)
Michael Rhodes (bass)
Arlan Schierbaum (organ)
Lee Thornburg (trombone, trumpet)
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Jeff Beck (guitar on 12.)

Tracklist:
01. Baddest Blues (Hart) 4.49
02. Bang Bang Boom Boom (Hart/Westberg) 3.38
03. Better Man (Hart/Byrom) 3.48
04. Caught Out In The Rain (Hart/House) 7.13
05. Swing My Thing Back Around (Hart) 3.37
06. With You Every Day (Hart/Winans) 3.04
07. Thru the Window Of My Mind (Hart/Westberg) 4.22
08. Spirit Of God (Hart) 4.53
09. There In Your Heart (Hart) 4.32
10. The Ugliest House On The Block (Hart) 5.13
11. Everything Must Change (Hart) 3.48
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12. I’d Rather Go Blind (Jordan/Foster) 5.01

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More from Beth Hart:

Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa – Black Coffee (Limited Edition) (2018)

Black Coffee is the third cover album recorded by American singer Beth Hart and blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, released on January 26, 2018 on J&R Adventures and Mascot Label Group. It follows their 2013 cover album together titled Seesaw. (ny wikipedia)

Beth Hart first teamed up with guitarist Joe Bonamassa in 2011 and the partnership proved to be mutually beneficial. Hart gave the rock-edged Bonamassa some blues bona fides while the guitarist brought the vocalist to a wider audience. Plus, it was evident from their two studio albums and live set that the two had an easy chemistry: They shared a similar vernacular in Chicago blues and classic soul. The pair rely on that effortless interplay on Black Coffee, their third studio collaboration. Working with producer Kevin Shirley — a veteran of Black Crowes records who has been in the Bonamassa orbit since 2006 — the pair eschew straight traditionalism for a clean, colorful, retro vibe. Sometimes, the duo make choices that are perhaps a little too obvious — the covers of LaVern Baker’s “Saved” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Sittin’ on Top of the World” are a bit on the nose — but they also know how to kick up the intensity on these chestnuts while avoiding sounding like they’re on steroids.

Still, the highlights of Black Coffee are the originals and lesser-known songs, as they reveal that there is plenty of common ground between Hart’s testifying and Bonamassa’s shredding. Interestingly, that common ground feels formal in a way their individual solo albums don’t — respectively, Hart will delve into the personal spins on roots music while Bonamassa will indulge in blues myths — but that’s the appeal: They’re working on keeping the flame burning, and Black Coffee may be their most effective testament in that effort to date. (by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa’s third studio album of mostly soul and blues sticks to the formula of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” and it serves them well.

Hart, a powerful singer also capable of nuance, is a good fit with Bonamassa, a guitar whiz with a wide range of sounds. They are bonded by their shared intensity, and the well-chosen repertoire, including many lesser-known tunes, gives them 10 opportunities to realize their potential.

Etta James songs are a staple of the duo and here they take on “Damn Your Eyes,” from 1989’s “Seven Year Itch,” one of James’ multiple “comeback” albums across the years. R&B diva Lavern Baker gets two nods, “Soul on Fire” and “Saved,” while “Lullaby of the Leaves,” a ballad with a scorching Bonamassa solo a la Gary Moore, dates back to the early 1930s.

Other songs include “Joy” from Lucinda Williams, Kansas Joe McCoy’s “Why Don’t You Do Right,” and the title track, Ike & Tina Turner via Steve Marriott.

Horn arrangements from Lee Thornburg, tasteful backing vocals and excellent keyboard parts from Reese Wynans, who used to play with Stevie Ray Vaughan, all help “Black Coffee” percolate into a tasty brew.

Album closer “Addicted” is a real gem, originally released in 2007 by Austria’s Waldeck. It has elements of a James Bond theme, shades of the tango and, unsuprisingly, a certain European vibe. Hart imbues it with passion, as do the Bonamassa and Wynans solos.

The world is full of little underappreciated treasures. If Hart & Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley can keep finding them, there’s a bright future in the grooves for more albums like this truly fine effort. (vy Pablo Gorondi)

Personnel:
Joe Bonamassa (guitar)
Paulie Cerra (saxophone)
Ron Dzuibla (saxophone)
Anton Fig (drums, percussion)
Beth Hart (vocals)
Rob McNelley (guitar)
Michael Rhodes (bass)
Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone)
Reese Wynans (keyboards)
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background vocals:
Jade Macreae – Juanita Tippins – Mahalia Barnes

Tracklist:
01. Give It Everything You Got (Winter/LaCroix) 4.37
02. Damn Your Eyes (Wyrick/Bogard) 4.33
03. Black Coffee (I.Turner/T.Turner) 4.16
04. Lullaby Of The Leaves (Petkere/Young) 5.43
05. Why Don’t You Do Right (McCoy) 4.35
06. Saved (Leiber/Stoller) 3.50
07. Sitting On Top Of The World (Vinson/Chatmon) 3.58
08. Joy (Williams) 4.23
09. Soul On Fire (Ertegun/Wexler) 5.02
10. Addicted (Engel/Waldeck) 3.40
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11. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Arlen/Mercer) 4.35

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Beth Hart – Live At SWR1 (German TV rip) (2017)

Beth Hart (born January 24, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter and musician from Los Angeles, California, United States. She rose to fame with the release of her 1999 single “LA Song (Out of This Town)” from her second album Screamin’ for My Supper. The single was a number one hit in New Zealand, as well as reaching top 5 on the US Adult Contemporary and number 7 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 Chart. Subsequent albums namely Seesaw and Live in Amsterdam by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa, achieved number 1 status on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. Hart’s release Bang Bang Boom Boom rose to number 3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart, as well as the album Don’t Explain by Hart and Bonamassa. The album Seesaw rose to number 8 on the Billboard Top Independent Album Chart. Hart has had two number 1 singles in Denmark “As Good as It Gets” and “Learning to Live”, as well a platinum selling album, Leave the Light On.

Hart’s first album with Bonamassa, Don’t Explain, went gold in the Netherlands. In 2014 Hart was nominated for a Grammy Award for Seesaw and she was also nominated for a Blues Music Award in the category ‘Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist’. (by wikipedia)

And here´s a TV rip from the German Sender SWR 1 … what a great, intimate concert !

Personnel:
Beth Hart (vocals, piano, bass, guitar)
Jon Nichols (guitar, vocals)

Tracklist:
01. Love Is A Lie (Hart)
02. Jazzman (Hart)
03. Good Day To Cry (Hart)
04. Tell Her You Belong To Me (Hart)
05. Broken And Ugly (Hart)
06. Isolation (Hart/Khoury/Herzberg)
07. Mama This One’s For You (Hart)
08. I’ll Take Care Of You (Benton)
09. Fire On The Floor (Hart)
10. My California (Hart/Westberg)
11. Leave The Light On (Hart/Leiber)

Total time: 59.15

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