“When Tad Robinson dies, he’s going to soul heaven…a place reserved for a very few people.” — Otis Clay
A potent blend of Chicago blues and Memphis soul, Did You Ever Wonder? features five originals written by Tad and longtime collaborator John Bean. Tad also covers six classics including the Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose gem “Too Late To Turn Back Now,” featuring special guest Otis Clay!
A stellar backing group includes guitarist Alex Schultz (Rod Piazza, William Clarke), drummer Marty Binder (Albert Collins, Junior Wells), Harlon Terson on bass (Lonnie Brooks, Otis Rush), and horn charts by soul legend Willie Henderson of Tyrone Davis and the Chi-Lites fame.
Did You Ever Wonder? was nominated in 2004 for Soul/Blues Album of the Year at the W.C. Handy Awards (now the Blues Music Awards) in Memphis.
Check out Tad’s other Severn titles: A New Point of View; Back In Style; and Day into Night.
LINER NOTES
Among those too many to thank, I would like to mention: David Weber, Joan Matthews, Rico Ferarra, Steve Fazio at the Vero Amplifier Company, Mark Baier at the Victoria Amplifier Company, Mike Milligan, Caleb Dube, Kevin Anker, Alberto Marsico, John Bean, Paul Holdman, Marty Lucas, Wendy Kerr, Gary and Cheryl Maners, Jamey Reid, Scott Herider, The Notodden Blues Festival, The Peer Belgium Rhythm and Blues Festival, Fritz Jakober and Guido Schmidt of the Lucerne Blues Festival, Ronnie Peterson, Detlev Hoegen, Jay and Carla Zochowski, Matthew Socey, Bob and Susan Koester, Andreas Arlt, Michael Arlt, Willie Henderson, Otis Clay, Steve Gomes, Neil Sexton, Tyler and Avery Robinson, Corinne Becknell-Lucas, the Daddy Jack’s crew, SoulBus, Jon Wood, Michael Stricklin, Jeff Reed, Daron Washington, Gary Myers, Timmy and Connie at The Verve, Gabriele and Gerd Huke, Hal and Carol Yeagy, Thea and Juri Ten Brinke, Bill Mallers, Chris Lieber, Bill Adkins, Rick Barnes, and the entire staff at Rax Trax.
I would like to thank Alex Schultz, Josh Shapera, David Earl, and the Severn staff for good advice, good ears, and good times. Above all I would like to thank my wife Amy for her continuing love and support. — TR
MUSICIANS
Tad Robinson: Vocals and Harmonica
Alex Schultz: Guitar
Harlan Terson: Bass Guitar
Marty Binder: Drums
Benjie Porecki: Organ, Wurlitzer, Piano, and Fender Rhodes (tracks 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Kevin McKendree: Organ, Wurlitzer, piano, and Fender Rhodes (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5)
Winston “Stone” Damon: Percussion
Otis Clay: Backing Vocals (tracks 4, 8)
Denise Davis: Backing Vocals (track 4)
Tony Brown: Bass Guitar (track 9)
Horns arranged and conducted by Willie Henderson
Jeff Antoniuk: Tenor Saxophone
Rick Humphreys: Tenor Saxophone
John Jensen: Trombone
Don Lerman: Baritone Saxophone
Kenny Rittenhouse: Trumpet and Flügelhorn
Scott Silbert: Baritone Saxophone
Bruce Swaim: Tenor Saxophone
Tom Williams: Trumpet and Flügelhorn
Scott Young: Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone and Flute
CREDITS
Executive Producer: David Earl
Produced by Tad Robinson, David Earl, Alex Schultz, and Josh Shapera
Recorded and mixed at Rax Trax, Chicago, IL and Severn Sound Studio, Severn, MD
Engineered by Josh Shapera, Eric Lemley, David Earl, and Jay Zdryski
Mastered by David Earl and Steve Cyphers at Severn Sound Studio, Severn, MD
Horn charts copied by Jeff Bryce
Photography by Amber Bowers
CD design by Al Brandtner, Brandtner Design, Chicago, IL
Tad plays Hohner Harmonicas exclusively
Harlan Terson uses GHS strings
Jeff Antoniuk appears courtesy of PCG Records, Inc.
Severn CD0025