Charlie Speed Silver Strings Sugar Free Records

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This CD is another classy offering from Sugar Free Records and is produced to the same high standard as Charlie's first CD in every way. This includes the excellently illustrated cover/sleeve notes. It is not a clone of the first however, and is a contrast to Heartland musically. Beginning with the title track , Silver Strings , the medium tempo strumming of a resonant and bright sounding acoustic guitar allows Charlie's mellow voice to sing a self-penned and very competently produced song with really nice lyrics as always. For an independent label, this is an extravagant offering production -wise. (As is the whole CD)

Another well played guitar intro heralds the start of Walk Away . Charlie's guitar sounds really pleasing tonally, and the control from his fingers proves to me just how good a musician he is. The song ends with a dramatic solo which is a crescendo of humongous proportions (if you'll pardon the slang). This is a marvellous song and a complete one, very satisfying to the listener.

Charlie Speed could be called “eclectic ” I suppose, as this CD encompasses more than one style. The third song on this album is Should I Wait , an R. Sundholm composition. With a driving rhythm and Charlie's lead guitar sounding excellent, it has a “Native American/Red Indian” feel. The vocals are chanted and in parts the guitar has Cowboys and Indians riffs in there! It's a very good addition to this very pleasant CD.

Keeping on a western theme, In the City has a Country and Western kind of feeling, a type of country blues. Another Charlie Speed song, the lyrics moot the dangers of walking in the city and the disappointment of the streets not being paved with gold. The chorus repeats ”How come women aint safe tonight…walking in the city”. Then Charlie's guitar work comes to the fore to play out another nice song.

A different arrangement of Blue , a song included on his Heartland CD has a slight zydeco/folk feel, but as a personal note, I don't like this one as much as his original. To be absolutely fair though, this version has a happy kind of feeling to it and it is very good on it's own merits. It's just that the “other” version, to me , is beyond reproach. C'est La Vie!

Next, as a lightly struck cymbal forms the intro to Cry Freedom , Charlie asks, ”Can you hear the cry for freedom?” This is a song which seems to start with minor chord feeling then brightens up in the chorus to major chord happier sound. Basically another lament, which Charlie sings so well, it has all the ingredients needed to make a great song. To improve the song even more, the guitar solo again lifts the mood and takes the listener to the end of the number.

Eclectic this album is, and we take another direction with Rock n Roll Blues . This 12-bar rocker has Charlie singing “She's leaving this town on the Nine o'clock plane!” The rock rhythm and the blues lyrics fit together well. The song is enhanced by Tom Mackle's Harmonica.

Suddenly the ninth track goes back to a country/blues style to play the song Throwing Stones . If Charlie is ever to become a million seller, I feel sure it will be after exposure on the Country and Western Channel. Garth Brooks move over! Although I am not a country fan myself, I can appreciate the guitar virtuosity on this number. Those with a liking for Country music will like this number -no question!

During the Charlie Speed Band live gigs, there is a number which has a special place for the fans of this fine musician. This number has been especially included for those fans on this CD album. It's title is Working Fields . A live recording, it is a fantastic instrumental piece of huge emotional value. Starting with a slow guitar intro, bringing Michael Spurr's Hammond in, the guitar then goes to some powerful chords as and when the drums of John Boulton signal the time is right. Charlie keeps the momentum going with beautiful ongoing guitar play. This number is superb with Andy Rawson's bass and the marching style drumming giving the piece an atmospheric edge. This would be a very good film soundtrack number, when you see the hero being taken to his last resting place……can you visualise that? Well if you can't, you would do if you listened to the track. It's almost symphonic!

After that fantastic piece of music, Charlie slows things down with It's Understood , an acoustic guitar and vocals only, chanted blues. The guitar strings ring true and clear. Charlie's excellent vocals are all that is needed to wrap up this album with this simple uncluttered number.

This CD is another excellent offering from this talented musician. The album is worth buying if only for Working Fields alone! The rest of the CD showcases the versatility of the man. It has a varied and high quality feel. I like it because I am a guitar freak and Charlie can make those Silver Strings talk with feeling. Soft and slow or loud with a cutting edge, it has it all, chords, picking, sliding and either acoustic or overdriven, Charlie plays with a quality which is God-given!