Paul deLay Band - Ocean Of Tears (1996)

To sing the blues effectively, one must sing about what they know. Paul DeLay knows what it is like to win and lose love, to be confident one moment and desperate the next, and to get high, suffer from drug abuse, and eventually kick his habit triumphantly. All of these experiences are part of his Evidence CD. DeLay, a fine harmonica player who is joined by his Portland-based sextet (which also includes guitarist Peter Dammann, organist Louis Pain, Dan Fincher on tenor, bassist John Mazzocco, and drummer Mike Klobas), has a highly expressive and rather raw voice. He performs ten colorful originals on Ocean of Tears, the majority of which were written while he was in prison on drug charges. DeLay's lyrics consistently tell memorable stories, and it's for his sincerity, emotional intensity, and insightful words that this CD is most highly recommended to blues and folk collectors.