Amazing ...

Rip It Up, Issue 4, 1 September 1977, Page 11

Amazing ...

John Malloy

The Amazing Rhythm Aces Toucan Do It Too. ABC

The Amazing Rhythm Aces are essentially a studio band, and for my money they are one of the tastiest units around. Their first album, Stacked Deck, was a vinyl masterpiece of evocative songs, restrained playing, and fine harmonies. They play rhythm’n’blues with strong overtones of country music, and their lead singer and songwriter, Russell Smith, has one of the best voices in popular music. Toucan Do It Too is their third album, following the superb Too Stuffed to Jump, and it maintains their high standards. The songs are simple and direct, although there are maybe a few too many "pain of love" lyrics for my taste. Barry Burton’s guitar and steel are consistently good. James

Hooker’s Piano is the other virtuoso instrument, providing fills and lead breaks with understated brilliance.

The emphasis on this album has shifted slightly from country and R’n’ B to more rhythmic stuff. There is reggae and calypso influence, but they always sound like the ARA, and not some cheap copy of a Jamaican band. Butch McDade’s drumming retains the light touch of the earlier material and copes well with the less rigid styles required on tracks like “Never Been to the Islands”. Other Standout tracks are "Two Can Do It Too” and “Never Been Hurt”.

Southern Bands certainly aren’t all they were reputed to be a couple of years ago, but there seems to be tradition evolving from the meeting of country and R’n’B in the South. The Amazing Rhythm Aces are one of the finest bands in that tradition.