Description

Produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, 'We Walk This Road' continues the Sacred Steel tradition for which Robert Randolph has earned wide praise, including the New York Times, which applauds 'his rip-roaring virtuosity and his gift for making his instrument sing without a word.'

Throughout the recording of 'We Walk This Road,' Randolph and Burnett worked closely together as archivists, discovering songs-decade by decade-from the 20th century American music canon. The songs they uncovered, ranging from blues and rock to field recordings and gospel, serve as the inspiration for the 11 songs on 'We Walk This Road.' Recorded at the Village Recorders and Electro Magnetic Studio, the album includes 'If I Had My Way' (featuring Ben Harper), 'Salvation' (featuring Leon Russell), and reinterpretations of Prince's 'Walk Don't Walk,' Bob Dylan's 'Shot Of Love,' (featuring Jim Keltner, who played drums on the original version) and John Lennon's 'I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama' (featuring Doyle Bramhall II).

Of the album, Randolph says 'T Bone and I drew a lot from the past while we were making this record, but I think it really is a record for these times. I think the fact that I, as a young guy who likes hip-hop and gospel, am reaching back into this rich history of American roots music will appeal to people who are fifteen, and people who are seventy-five years old. T Bone opened my eyes to great archival music. He's a link between the past and the present.'

Track List:
1. Segue 1
2. Traveling Shoes
3. Segue 2
4. Back To The Wall
5. Shot Of Love
6. I Still Belong To Jesus
7. Segue 3
8. If I Had My Way
9. Segue 4
10. Don't Change
11. I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama
12. Walk Don't Walk
13. Segue 5
14. Dry Bones
15. Segue 6
16. I'm Not Listening
17. Salvation

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LFIOW2/?tag=imwan-20

Also available in a deluxe edition from Randolph's website

The Deluxe edition includes:

• The brand new album "We Walk This Road" on cd.
• Instant MP3 downloads of the songs "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" (live) and "If I Had My Way".
• 14"x14" numbered lithograph, a select quantity will be autographed by Robert
• Dunlop Robert Randolph & The Family Band branded pick tin containing
  
  • six (6) flat logo picks
  • two (2) metal finger picks
  • one (1) white screenprint autographed finger pick (from Robert's personal collection)

http://www.robertrandolph.net/splash/

I've been really anticipating Robert coming out with something new. It's been four years since Colorblind and it's still my feel good go to record.

I'm completely dismayed that after four years he's coming out with a roots cover record. Quite honestly, T-Bone Burnett's schtick for this sort of thing is growing really old with me and, to be honest, there hasn't been a single thing that he's produced that I've thought was more than mediocre. Not only do we get TBBs tired stripped down look into yesteryear with Mellencamp to look forward to, but now Robert Randolph seems to be drinking the Cool-Aid as well.

Perhaps the reason for a roots-inspired cover album is due to Robert not being able to come up with anything original that would top Colorblind. Four years certainly sounds like there must've been some kind of problems behind the scenes (especially if it's taken you that long to come out with an album of covers).

Hopefully it will be great. But regardless, this is not what I was hoping for after four years of waiting.

I agree with Ignohippo. Classified was such a fresh approach to funk, and Colorblind kept the momentum going (though with too many guests). A cover album seems like a step backwards (particularly one that seems to turn away from funk, which is what got him to the party), but I'm in on the basis of my enjoyment of his last two projects. Like Phil Collins, RR gets the benefit of the doubt but needs to deliver an enjoyable album, or I might jump off the train for the next album.

Jim

Has anyone heard this yet?

And, if so, what do the 6 segues sound like?

Jim

I hear what you're saying, Hippo, but I think I do prefer the roots-approach to the Auto-Tune stuff that everyone else is doing.

Jim

Three of the songs are book ended (beginning and end) by fragments of old time gospel songs from a band called Mitchell's Christian Singers, hence the six segues.

It may sound strange asking if anyone else has heard the album when I clearly have it myself, but I wanted to hear other opinions before publically expressing my own.

I'm loving it. It seems to get closer to his church roots, loses a some of the everything plus several kitchen sinks production, but is by no means a somber record.

The segues are archival gospel, including one by Blind Willie Johnson.

I finally got around to taking the chance on this one. I'm happy to say it's much better than I though it would be. The material is right along with Colorblind and Classified and it isn't the somber and roots-based record I had feared it would be.

With that said, I'm not a big fan of the production at all. Many of the background instruments sound like they were recorded in a bathroom and are very muddy – even oddly off-time to my ears in many spots. I don't think T-Bone Burnett really added anything to what RRATFB were already doing (besides the segues, which are cool but get a little old after the first two or three). If anything, while the recordings may be more "live" than usual, he has the band sounding somewhat restrained, over-rehearsed and lifeless compared to their other two albums. It just seems like they're laid back on this one rather than going for the jugular like we're used to.

It's a little disappointing that this is basically a covers record. It only lends credence to my assertion that he me must be in somewhat of a songwriting dry spell which is why tit's taken so long for them to follow up Colorblind. Some of the covers are very odd choices but at least musically it's very consistent with what they've done previously.