In rock and roll circles, Bobby Charles is revered for his time at Chess Records and for writing songs that became hits for Bill Haley and Fats Domino. His reputation among peers ran just as deep; he was so respected that The Band invited him to appear at their 1976 farewell concert, forever preserved in music history as The Last Waltz.
He is also celebrated for the album he recorded in the early 1970s, backed by members of The Band. Long out of print, it has become a highly sought after collector’s item; the kind of record that rarely sits in a bin for long, as the photo below makes clear.
But Bobby Charles’ story runs far deeper than “See You Later Alligator” and “Walking To New Orleans.” That becomes clear while spending time with a recent collection from England’s excellent Last Music Company. Titled Last Train To Memphis, this beautifully assembled 2LP set revisits Charles’ self released 2004 album and proves to be a deeply rewarding listen from start to finish.
Featuring guest performances from no less than Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Delbert McClinton, Sonny Landreth, Dan Penn, Fats Domino and Maria and Geoff Muldaur, this music was recorded as far back as 1975 through the 1980s and ‘90s into the early 2000s and yet it all holds together remarkably well. That is what happens when you are an artist with a singular vision
If you love the music of Dan Penn, The Band, Solomon Burke, Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello and Dr. John, you’re probably going to like the back porch, shoes off reflective Sunday sunset vibe of Last Train To Memphis. Charles’ gently raspy vocals remind me of Randy Newman by way of Dan Penn. And his songwriting prowess is on par with those hit making icons.
Early standouts on Last Train To Memphis include “Homesick Blues,” a duet with Maria Muldaur that features acoustic guitar and a tasteful solo from Willie Nelson. It’s relaxed but never lazy, the kind of track that settles in and stays awhile.
The country-leaning waltz “String of Hearts” showcases one of Charles’ most heartfelt vocals on the album, supported by an unusual but striking solo trio of tenor sax, piano, and electric slide guitar from Sonny Landreth. The sparse arrangement gives the performance room to breathe.
“What Are We Doing” leans into heartbreak territory, blending double-tracked saxophone with Landreth’s aching, crying slide work. The result is restrained but emotionally direct; no theatrics, just honest, lived-in feeling.
I could go on but I think you’re getting the sense that this is some fine, introspective country-folk-blues music here. Apparently, even Bob Dylan is a fan saying (from the official press release) “… He was more successful as a songwriter than a singer. And that’s a sin, because he’s a hell of a singer. He’s got one of the most melodious voices ever transmuted into a piece of vinyl, matter of fact.”
I’ll concur with Mr. Dylan and encourage you to check out Bobby Charles’ music. You can get Last Train To Memphis on 2LP standard weight vinyl via Amazon for just $31.99 (click here) or on 2CDs for $18.99 (click here), the latter an especially good value as it includes a second disc of 19 bonus track highlights from two of Charles’ 1990s albums.
Where to buy: $34.99 at Amazon (2LP) or $18.99 (2CD)
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
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