Classic
Black:
The Best of Cletus Black :
2012
PETER
CHAKERIAN, COOL CLEVELAND
MANAGING EDITOR
As a rock critic, I really hate to draw comparisons. That doesn't always stop
me, but I digress...many things have stuck with me since I first heard local
roots-rock iconoclast Cletus Black years ago. His sandpapery voice and emotional
depth charges remind me of an alt-country Leonard Cohen, with toasty oaked,
whiskey-soaked shades of J.J. Cale at his edges. Black's songs come from a
heart that's surely on its way to said color, lined with Springsteen flourishes
and melancholy violets. His latest effort is a strong, rich tour de fource--the
ubiquitous audio equivalent to French press coffee.
This new release features many of Black’s "Review" band and
opens (surprisingly enough) with a gritty cover of Cale’s "Bring
it Back"--which soars on producer Dave Morrison's mouth harp skills. Black's
remaining 11 original tracks mine plebeian strength from brokenhearted blues.
Cuts like "Heavy and Blue," "Never Enough" (with harpist
Colin Dussault). "This Thing for You" and the threadbare
"Sanctified" all offer varying degress of haunting imagery and stark
raving ability. Black's one hell of a poet; I vaguely recall him being compared
to film noir at one point in his career. With musicians like Tommy Rich (drums)
and Greg Hurd (piano) backing him up, his songwriting feels far larger than
any big screen could hold. And much larger than local. — PC
This raspy-voiced singer-songwriter is one of the city's true hidden treasures. He's in fine form once again on this new album that finds him backed by many of the players from his live band, the Revue. The disc opens with a gritty cover of J.J. Cale's "Bringing it Back" that Black makes his own thanks in part to some fine harmonica work courtesy of Dave Morrison. The rest of the tracks are all originals, and it's a testament to Black's abilities as a songwriter that the album seamlessly flows together after the opening cover. Black alternately evokes the working-class rock of Springsteen ("Woman Woman") and the Gothic blues of Nick Cave ("Sanctified"). Guest spots from local heroes such as Colin Dussault, who adds harmonica to "Never Enough," drummer Tommy Rich, who's behind the kit on the same tune, and pianist Greg Hurd, who appears on "Tennessee Baby" and "Heavy and Blue," provide a nice touch, too. Produced by the aforementioned Morrison at his Treefort Studio, the album has a good live feel to it. — JN
The Black Book : 2008
The book gathers all Cletus' original lyrics from the seven CD's released from 1996 to 2008. They are organized alphabetically by song title, as well as by first line. As a lyricist, Black stands out as he eschews the confessional and self-centered style favored by so many of his contemporaries, and instead creates songs that read like short stories. Character and mood are pre-eminent as Black creates vignettes that seem to have more in common with film noir. "Jesus told me to move to Virginia Beach...". "You're a hellhound sniffing on a cold dark trail...". "Working Homicide down in FLA...". Whether in a lyrical or narrative style, Black is a master at the compact diss and spare scenario.
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES : 6/20/2007
In 1996, singer-Songwriter-guitarist Cletus Black, who'd long been
performing around the area inconspicuously, decided it was time to
get himself on the radar. He released his first CD Shades of Black,
in 1996, which compiled his 1980s recordings and bround fans up to
date. He's been a busy man since then and has just released his seventh
post-comeback CD, Down Those Tracks. It's credited to the Cletus
Black Revue and it showcases not only Black but also the musicians
who've been his loyal compatriots for almost a decade. Guitarist
Kevin McCarthy, who also plays as a solo act, and harmonica player
Dave Morrison, who fronted Aces and Eights for years, share singing
and songwriting duties. The band's shored up by the rhthm section
of former Simpletons bassist Pat Walsh and drummer Rod Reisman, known
from his years of playing with local rock-reggae stars First Light...
ANASTASIA PANTSIOS
The
band's own material, including the suggestively sinister "Black Cat," the
raw boogie blues of "Jump
Jump Jump," a clanky, growling assault on televangelist Pat Robertson
called
"Virginia Beach," and the lilting harmonica-driven instrumental "The
Happy Song," dovetails with the two clasic covers: an uptempo "Stranger
Here" by
Sonny Terry and "Brownie McGee" with its driving harmonica and
guitar and a version of Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues," that
acutally sounds more contemporary than "90 Proof Blues" the Black/Resiman
composition that precedes it...The band's focus on its original material
sets it apart from many bands on the local blues-rock curcuit...
PLAIN
DEALER: 3/03/2006
You'd be hard pressed to find a more earnest effort than singer-songwriter
Cletus Black's latest acoustic-based album "in the Shadow." With
a baritone timbre easily drawing comparisons to Johnny Cash and a vocal
delivery often straying into Bob Dylan's storytelling ways, the Cleveland-based
artist finds his groove early and often. This compelling country album
features a minimalist approach, which is traditional in spirit but sans
the unnecessary nostalgia or syrup. Wearing a song like a cloak of honesty,
Black turns Neil Diamond's already dim "Solitary Man" into his own admission of guilt.
From the upbeat "Swtich on the Darkness" to the workingman blues feel of
"Give It a Shot," this man in black doesn't feign tears-in-your-beer sentiment.
If you want the real thing, experience "In the Shadow."
FREE
TIMES:
3/08/2006
For the past decade, singer-songwriter Cletus Black has been
one of the less heralded yet consistent artists on the local cicuit.
He's got a husky voice that at times recalls Americana guys like Stve
Earle and Fred Eaglesmith, and In The Shadow, his seventh album, is
yet another fine colleciton of original material (with covers of Neil
Diamond's "Solitary Man" and Van Morrison's "Tupelo
Honey"" –
Jeff Neisel
In the Shadow is where Cletus Black has been far too long. It's high time for this guy's traditional yet unique rock attitue to reach ears outside the Cleveland area. Maybe LeBron James can carry a few of Black's CDs with him on the road and sell them to the folks hounding him for autographs. On his sixth CD sine 1998, Black's songwriting is better than ever, from the bayou-flavored opener ("Stoney Ridge Creek") to the humourous tale of war-between-the-sheets" ("Get Out of Dodge) to the slam-bang finale ("Roulette")... Like stadium mustard, Cletus Black is a Cleveland product that deserves to to find many more consumers. - Steve Byrne
Bloodlines
to the Heart :
2003
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES
Cletus Black's music harks back to a generation of blues and country-informed
folk-rockers who sprang from the loins of Bob Dylan. His rootsy eclecticism,
storytelling lyrics, strong songwriting craft and rough-hewn voice have much
in common with that seemingly bottomless pool of talented Texas singer-singwriters
such as Guy Clark, Townes Van Zant and Tom Russell. His music would sound more
at home in Austin than in his native Cleveland. Tracks like "Cocaine Trail" and "Revenge" have
a brooding sense of foreboding that recalls Johnny Cash. In fact, a general
darkness and last-call desperation pervades the entire disc that's contrasted
effectively with spirited music that sonically suggests an indominability in
the face of life's reverses. Black...draws on an crop of talented veteran Cleveland
players including blues guitarist Alan Greene, saxophonist Norm Tischler, vocalist
Becky Boyd, harmonica Dave Morrison and violist Michael Dreyfuss to flesh out
his songs.
— Anastasia
Pantsios
SCENE MAGAZINE
Cletus Black is one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters in the area
and -- given his knack for lyrics -- one whose reach beyond the region is way
overdue.Bloodlines to the Heart builds on the strengths of Black's solid 2001 offering
Black Ice, a disc abundant with hooks that established a variety of engaging
moods and pictures. Black gets a lot of storytelling mileage out of the short,
simple phrases from which he typically fashions his tunes. On Bloodlines, songs
such as "Mr. Blues," "Cold Blooded Love," and especially "Dead
on Arrival" all draw power from a less-is-more aesthetic. This set, while
never dreary, is mostly dark; fittingly, a recurring Leonard Cohen influence
is detectable on "We Are Hiding" and "Revenge." But for all
the influences, Black is still his own man musically."
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES
Singer-songwriter Cletus Black put out his first album in 1979, but took
a lengthy break afterward and didn't start recording again until 1997. Now, Black
performs regularly, working the local coffeehouse and blues circuit, sometimes
playing solo and sometimes with his band, the Revue. Produced by Donnie Iris
and the Cruisers' drummer Tommy Rich, this album with the Revue was made with
few overdubs; as a result, it has all the immediacy of a live recording. Throughout,
the Revue plays with all the swagger of a tight bar band and Black's working-class
ethos and gruff voice make him comparable to Fred Eaglesmith, the Canadian country-folk
guy who sings affectionately about bluetick hounds and broken-down cars. Black
draws from a similar well, and writes about working shit jobs ("Graveyard
Shift") and hopping trains ("Ride"). Covers of Creedence Clearwater's "Green
River", Chuck Berry's "Nadine" and Willie Dixon's "Spoonful" are
underwhelming, but this is a solid effort from one of Cleveland's most talented
singer-songwriters. – Jeff Niesel
SCENE MAGAZINE
The Cletus Black Revue has made what might be the best live album ever
to come out of a studio in the Cleveland area. An oxymoron, you say? Oh yeah.
Still, Not Too Blues sure has the feel of a live recording, with little overdubbing
to re-create that onstage atmosphere. Black, one of Northeast Ohio's most prolific
songwriters, wanted it that way. He.s always stressed that the Cletus Black Revue
is a band, rather than a vehicle to push the four Cletus Black CDs that he's
released since 1997. This proves it. Only 4 of the 12 numbers are Black compositions.
Harmonica ace Dave Morrison contributes two tunes, while guitarist Kevin McCarthy
and viola player Michael Dreyfuss have one each.
– Steve Byrne
"Black
Ice" contains twelve original Cletus stories
of life and love.
Produced by Tommy Rich, it features the mandolin and slide guitar work of Bill
Lestock. Jennifer Lee adds some outstanding background vocals, and guitar man
Kevin McCarthy's acoustic rhythms are heard throughout this album. Add some upright
bass, cimbalom, harmonica, dobro, and trombone and you have a very earthy yet
contemporary sound. Accessible roots rock.
TONIGHT MAGAZINE / December
31, 2001
BlackIce picked as one of the 10
best CD's for 2001
After
a 15-year lay-off of recording, area mystery man Black is at it again
with a local who's who like guitarist Kevin McCarthy, drummer Tommy
Rich, bassist Dallas Coffee, harpist Dave Morrison, vocalist Jennifer
Lee and a all-star roster of talent. Produced by Tommy Rich, the low
key roots/blues mix of BLACK ICE was the best of a ton of Clevelend artists
released this year.
CLEVELAND FREE TIMES / November
13, 2001
Cletus Black knows hooks.
There are enough catchy phrases, tunes and choruses on Black Ice, the
West Side singer/songwriter's fourth release, to invite a second listen.
And thereafter, enough mood swings and peculiar personality to sustain
a longer-term relationship. While traces of Waits, Cohen, Zevon and a shot of
Buddy Holly are detectable in Black's writing, his own sense of power of simplicity
prevails. "Take it on Faith" and ""Too Many Times" are
gems of directness. If they pulled singles from albums, "He's Got a Harley" would
be airplay-bound. Black's craft is extremely well-served by Tommy Rich's production,
which borders on exquisite. While no one is specifically credited for the arrangements,
someone should be applauded for the sensitivity shown to the material evident
on virtually every track. Slide guitarist/mandolinist Bill Lestock, background
vocalist Jennifer Lee and harmonica player Dave Morrison are standouts in a first-rate
supporting cast. This is easily some of the best homegrown around.
– Duane Verh
Cletus
Black :
1999 The
self titled "Cletus Black" CD was released one year after "Back
It Up." It contains twelve more original Cletus songs. This project
has a bloozie-rock, live feel to it, and marks the addition of harmonica
virtuoso Dave Morrison to the recording and also to Cletus' live band.
Morrison cooks on "Night Train," "Bucket of Blues," "Taken
By Time," and he jams with Mike Dreyfuss on "Hard Drinkin'
Mama." Solid drum work by Nashville's Jimmy Clark keeps this disc
rocking. The album was picked as one of the best of the year by the Cleveland
Free Times.
CLEVELAND FREE TIMES / May 11, 1999
BlackIce picked as one of the 10 best
CD's for 2001
BIG CITY CLUES JUNE/JULY 1999
Cleveland's lyrical
poet, Cletus Black is back with his latest batch of rock'n blues ballads
and stories of life. Stuck in Ohio with a Greenwich attitude and a
backcountry outlook, Black is kickin' up some of the best talent around
him to deliver his latest edicts. Throwin' down a basic acoustic and
electric mix with hints of hot harp, steamin' viola, slick slide, and
hearty percussion this effort moves with an identity that is all its
own... Leading it off with "Bucket of Blues," Black
kicks it around with bounce and flair. The haunting rhythms of "Night
Train" are punchy, while other killer cuts like "No Moon Night" and "Perfect
Night for the Blues" resonate with your mind long after hearing
them. Catch the humor of cuts like "I'm Testifyin'" and "With
A Woman Who Rolls." An Ohio original, Cletus Black is an elite wordsmith
with a unique musical vision.. scope this... it's rockin' blues noir!
– Mark A Cole
SCENE MAGAZINE/JUNE 1999
Cletus Black comes through with
another dose of party-ready, no-fooling rock and roll with his self-titled
album. From the opening of "Bucket of
Blues," the album's first track, you know everything will be all right.
Strains of John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton, Nils Lofgren and Bob Welch period Fleetwood
Mac are detected on this release. Black mines the same vein as he did with last
year's BACK IT UP but the harmonica playing of Dave Morrison makes CLETUS BLACK
a bluesier experience, although everything remains strictly in the rock and roll
fold. One possible exception is "Black Diamond," probably the disc's
most interesting inclusion, with its Spanish guitar and tale of star-crossed
love. This is a song that could easily have been pulled off by a country balladeer
like Robert Earl Keen or Kevin Welch. In a decade when rock has lost much of
its original reason for being, it's great to see someone like Black still making
records that show people how to have a good time." – Steve
Byrne
CHRONICLE TELEGRAM / MAY 7,
1999
Local singer/songwriter Cletus
Black releases his second original CD less than a year after his critically-acclaimed
Back It Up album. Smart move. Not only will Black attract listeners from
the last record, he'll pick up a lot more from this smooth-sounding CD.
Right from the start - "Bucket
of Blues" and "Night Train" - Black and his band sound like
they're performing in your living room while sipping down a few brews."
– Steve Brown
CLEVELAND FREE TIMES / DECEMBER
29, 1999
A dozen gritty vignettes from a
guitarist/vocalist/songwriter who dodges pigeonholes with this mix
of blues, rock, and shades of country. Black delivers the lyrics
from a place that hovers between singing and spoken-word, often pondering
life's rougher edges but always offering brief glimmers of hope. The whole package
comes across like some cosmic intersection of Delta blues, classic rock and R
and B. He's surrounded here by a small army of able-bodied session players, including
guitarists Allan Greene and Austin "Walkin' Cane" Charanghar, harpest
Dave Morrison."- Jason Bracelin and John Bruening.
Now
known as "the babe CD," Back It Up marks the return of Cletus
to his music. It contains twelve brand new original songs featuring "Clothesline
Blues", "Orbit Sleep", and "Depot Road." "Stage
Left" received worldwide air play. A raucous version of the Animals "I'm
Crying" closes out the album. This CD introduces Michael Dreyfuss,
former McKendree Spring co- founder, to Cletus' recording and to his
live band. Local blues favorite Colin Dussault adds some tasty harmonica.
Catchy stuff.
BIG CITY BLUES AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
1996
These grooves emanate from Cleveland, Ohio via the deep dark Paris
nightclubs and/or the dank alleys of New York. Fantastic writing and fanatical
arrangements gives this a Velvet Underground feel. Raw, deep and powerful
blues! Great backup and tighter than tight deliveries!
BIG CITY CLUES JUNE/JULY 1998
"As a songwriter, Black
stands on the shoulders of giants...Every song has a distinctive hook
and the lyrics are sufficiently mature and esoteric...after walking
away from a recording career 14 years ago...with the release of Back
it Up he is a candidate for comeback player of the year." –
Mark A. Cole
Shades
of Black is a compilation of Cletus' 1980's recordings digitally remixed
and remastered. "Pumping Iron" and "Smokey Blue" has
former Dead Boy Jimmy Zero doing background vocals. "Blues on Time" and "Tattoo
Blues" feature slide guitar work from Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown).
Fine piano playing by Chicago stalwart Phil Baron and lots of stinging
guitar from Cleveland guitar master Alan Greene can be heard all over this
disc. Timeless rock n roll.
JAM NITE NEWS 1996
"Cletus' calling card lists him as
a songwriter first and foremost. And that is the feature of his album Shades
of Black.... This all-original album showcases the capabilities of what true
creativity can do with the songwriting process.... Cletus is good at balancing
on the tightrope of instrumental ingenuity and lyrical creativity for each
of the fourteen songs herein included.... Cletus does not portray himself to
be anything other than what he is, a songwriter, a rock-n-roller and a first
rate bandleader. Who says you can't have it all in music. With Shades of Black,
there is 52 minutes of worthwhile music in the true tradition of rock and roll,
honest and forthright, just like the man playing it." – Dave
Hopkins
GREETINGS FROM THE NORTHCOAST
"I was pleasantly surprised to find a straight ahead rock-n-roll album
spiced with some blues and country. Add a unique singing voice, and the
resulting mix makes Shades of Black an interesting disc. Cletus Black's
voice is a deep gritty instrument which in itself makes the disc worth
a listen. He reminds me a lot of Eric Burdon.... Black has a knack for
catchy mid-tempo rockers." – Kevin McCarthy
