Fine Soft Land

by Dave "Snaker" Ray, Dave Ray

Overview

Dave Snaker Ray split his second album about evenly between his own compositions and covers of songs from the likes of Sleepy John Estes, Arthur Crudup, and Leroy Carr. It's a tribute to Ray's feel for traditional blues styles that it's not easy to tell the originals from the covers, though overall it's just an average, if respectable, album. He accompanies himself on 12-string guitar on this set of acoustic blues, playing harmonica on his "Tribute" to Sonny Boy Williamson II, piano on the closing "Born to Surrender," and singing a one-minute snatch of Mose Allison's "Young Man" a cappella. The LP usually has a slow, relaxed ambience that sometimes gets a little too low-energy after a few songs at a time. Some of the highlights include his bottleneck guitar on "West Egg Rag" and his unusual, almost raga-tinged guitar work on "Baby Please Don't Go," which in spots is rather reminiscent of the approach Davy Graham used in England on "Blue Raga." Future Rolling Stone editor Paul Nelson produced. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	11/23/2010
Label:	Wounded Bird
UPC:	0664140731929
Rank:	99239

Tracks

1. Alabama Women
2. Young Man
3. Crying Shame
4. Got To Love
5. West Egg Rag
6. How You Want Your Rolling Done
7. Highway 51
8. Tribute
9. Baby Please Don't Go
10. Kid Man Blues
11. Death Valley Blues
12. If I Get Lucky
13. Married Woman Blues
14. Look Over Yonder's Wall
15. You Can't Go
16. Born To Surrender

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dave "Snaker" Ray   Primary Artist
Dave Ray   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Harmonica,Guitar (12 String)

Technical Credits

Paul Nelson   Cover Photo,Liner Notes,Producer
Peter K. Siegel   Engineer,Producer
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup   Composer
Jac Holzman   Production Supervisor
Dave Ray   Arranger,Composer
William S. Harvey   Cover Design
Traditional   Composer