Pat Smillie - Lonesome For A Long Time (2019)

This six track EP includes all self-written material by Detroit-based powerhouse vocalist Pat Smillie. While he has a powerful voice, there are also plenty of subtle soulful elements included and together this creates a very warm vibrant sound. Pat was raised in Detroit where his early influences were the Motor City artists that included the Temptations, Wilson Picket and Bob Seger. He has fused these styles into his trademark sound which is solid soulful blues aided by good quality songs and a full backing band that includes some cracking horn playing arranged by KeithKaminski. He has dedicated this mini-album to his inspirations; Joe Cocker, Chuck Berry, Otis Clay and Dennis Edwards, all of these artists influences can be clearly heard on this album. Difficult to highlight any particular song, although, the rocking 'Boulder City Breakdown' is a very catchy number aided by guest guitarist Jim McCarty’s (Mitch Ryder) thumping lead guitar soloing work. These six songs represent Pat’s first new material for over a decade but on this evidence a full length album cannot come soon enough for me as Pat Smillie is a brilliant vocalist and songwriter. ~Adrian Blacklee