After Dark

Rip It Up, Issue 136, 1 November 1988, Page 8

After Dark

ROBERT CRAY INTERVIEW

In times when blues and folk-style music often falls prey to pop revivalists, the distinctive and contemporary sound of the Robert Cray Band has set a new precedent for both blues and rock acts alike. ’ ' 1 <

The winner of a Grammy in 'B7 and numerous othertitles along the way, Cray's new album Don't Be Afraid Of The Darkis his finest yet. Cray first made an impact in this , country with last year's Strong Persuader, after its Top 10 success his earlier albums were re-released. Those fortunate enough to catch the Robert Cray Band earlier this year were treated to live 80s blues at its best, the emphasis being on the originality and clarity which has become the Robert Cray trademark. Alone in his Newcastle hotel room, a jet-lagged but convivial Robert Cray talked about his new album, David Sanborn, touring blues and playing with Chuck Berry. Hi Robert, how's Newcastle? "We haven't been out to do , anything yet. We're five miles away from town—stuck out here in the : middle of nowhere!"' About the new album; there seems to be a bigger blues prescence on Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark and an even more polished Cray Band ? sound — is this what we can expect from you in the future? , 'We don't try to figure out anything specific for a certain recording — what happened with this record is just something that happened. We just go in with the songs that we have and let it flow." • . • ~ The consistency of the material suggests that the band and its songwriters (there are several credited) are pretty close. "Yeah, that's basically true. You 'Y? have the band contributing, then you

have the producers, and we've all been friends since 1977, so we stay in touch with one another. Everyone seems to know what everybody's personal life is about, even if one of the songs aren't exactly about somebody. We're sort of a family, I guess, which is unusual these days." It must be great to have occasional additions to the family like David Sanborn, who guests on the second single, 'Acting This Way'. "That was pretty unusual too! We first ran into him three years ago on a television show in Germany. He had a copy of False Accusations vhth him and said that he'd love to play with us some time. So we were working on the new album and we goto call from him that was like, "I'm in Los Angeles and I'm on my way down to the studio," — no if's or but's about it! So we opened up a few tracks on 'Acting This Way' which we'd already done with a guitar solo. He went in, took his time, and came up with a blazing solo!" The Memphis Horns feature on your last two albums. Can we expect a horn section on stage this time around? "As a matter of fact we've just - done some shows with them in Seattle and they just left us yesterday. But we won't be bringing them with us. They're on tour with Jimmy Buffet now, which will probably swing down yourway later. Butafterthe New Year we're gonna try and grab them on a permanent basis because we fell in love with each other, we turned out to be the perfect

complement to each other. They like our music 'cause it reminds them of what they used to do when they were younger, and we're big fans of what they used to do when they were younger!" x You've made a policy of playing smaller venues this time around.... "We like playing smaller venues. We love to play theatres with a < seating capacity of about 2500, with the occasional place where there's 6-7000. But a steady diet of ;•' colosseums is not what we want to do. We'd rather play a few nights at a smaller venue than one night ata huge one because people get to see you, there's more closeness with the music." In a recent fl/L/interview, Keith Richards said that if you can work with Chuck Berry, you can work with anyone. How did you work with Chuck on Hail Hail Rock'n'Rolß ■ "Well, Keith's had his problems \ with Chuck Berry. He's known Chuck a long time and was kind of playing back his debtto him with that film. Chuck Berry has never really trusted anyone, which has kept him on top.

Although everyone was there to pay their respects and get involved with that movie, he's still Chuck Berry and that's how it was. It's like a father-son relationship with Chuck and Keith. "The whole thing was a blast, it really was. To be around those . people, and me being the youngest guy there, they made me really comfortable when I walked in. Of course I've listened to Chuck's music and the Stones' music, and Eric Clapton, but until you have a chance . to meet them personally ... well, it was an experience! And a lot of fun." Songs like 'Don't You Even Care' on the new album seem to show a greater mastery of the different influences of your other records. Are you more comfortable with the sound? .. V. "I really like that song, that's one I wrote. Maybe something that reminds me of Buddy Guy —all that crazy guitar work. But I like the record because of that. It has blues a nd different kinds of songs on it, the ■ moody, provocative kind of songs -/ that Dennis Walker comes up with." . How do you feel about tags like

Guitar Player's Best Electric Blues Guitarist? Do you consider yourself more a band member, or more a guitar slinger? "I'm a band memberfirst and foremost. Nobody likes to deal with tags like that. I mean, that's only someone's opinion. I play guitar and have fun doing it but to live up to a label like that...? I pay no mind to it. I'll stickwith the band."

With thisalbum the band seem to have resolved a lot of their musical influences. 'Well, it lets everyone know where the band is coming from but as far as coming to a resolve goes, I don't know. I feel the band is still really fresh. There's still a lot of ideas to come out so we'll see what happens." ' Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark also really shines in the production area ... "Thankyou! Everytime we go into the studio we're determined to do it better. Not that we want to get too slick or anything, just better. It would be fairto say that Bruce and Dennis . [Bromberg and Walker, Cray's longtime producers] make a big contribution with their songwriting and the whole atmosphere they create in the studio. Like I say, we're all old friends, and everyone has a say." say. So what's next for Robert Cray—more records, more tours, the usual? "Yeah, more records. But touring's really what we're all about and we're looking toward to heading down your way this month. As tor the usual, well, we still have a few surprises up our sleeves. You're just gonna have to wait and see!" In the wake of this man's recent achievements, the wait will be well worth it.

ANDREWBROWN