Turntable Matinee Yep Roc – Yep 2121 Power Of The 45 - Love That Man - The Great State Of Misery - Haunted Heels - Ruby Jane - Spanish Dagger - Mad - The Ones You Say You Love - You Don't Know Me At All - Yes (I Feel Sorry For You) - Lonesome Dollar - Slippin' Away - I Know I've Loved You Before - Power Of The 45 Pt. 2. I couldn’t swear this review is very objective as I was hooked by Big Sandy since the needle of my platter played “Hot Water” the opening song of “Fly Rite With”, their first album, something like 17 years ago. Since that moment every new record was like meeting again an old friend. In 2000, the dark mood “Nightide” marked a turning point in Big Sandy’s recording journey and his songwriting. Having used the rockabilly and the western swing terminology and grammar for years, he freed his writing and went to a new level with no restrictions, creating more than re-creating. After “It’s Time” in 2002, “Turntable Matinee” is a deeper step in that direction. Still built around western swing type of songs like “Yes (I Feel Sorry For You)” with Lee Jeffriess back behind the double neck steel guitar, it takes that genre further and brings on some of these songs a late 60’s feel (“The Great State Of Misery”). Straight rockin’ songs make a welcome return in Big Sandy’s set with “Ruby Jane” and the two parts of “Power Of The 45” at the beginning and the end of the record, an ode to the band’s influences (Glen Glenn, Link Wray, Chuck Berry, Janis Martin, Etta James…). Between those two solid anchors you’ll find some latin / bossa nova (Spanish Dagger), some bluegrass (Lonesome Dollar) and probably the biggest surprise : a Stax / Memphis soul masterpiece called “Slippin’ Away” with Cad Kadison on sax. And just when I was thinking “Hey this is the first Fly-Rite Boys’ album without an instrumental tune” came the hidden track, an instro version of “Spanish Dagger” called by the man himself “The Cocktail Mix”. Finally it’s more than logical that after being produced by Dave Alvin for their first two albums as Fly-Rite Boys they now fit perfectly with the Blasters’ definition of American Music. Since the Fly-Rite Trio days the line-up has seen some changed but far from weaken the band it brought new blood and forced it to be more creative every time. The best example is bassist Jeff West who is now a key member of the band : he wrote three songs (and one of the most beautiful song ever sung by Big Sandy “You Don’t Know Me At All) and sings two. The musicianship is, as usual, faultless from Ashley Kingman’s inventive guitar licks and his questions/answers with Lee Jeffriess (especially on “Yes(I Feel Sorry For You”) to Bobby Trimble subtle drumming (listen to “I Know I’ve Loved You Before” and pay attention to his brushwork). This album is going to be hard to top but I’ve already said that about “It’s Time” so I don’t worry that much. Fred "Virgil" Turgis