Track Listing

1. Tall Cotton
2. Shine On
3. So Glad
4. Destiny Blues
5. Storybook Hero
6. Diamond Days
7. Dr Shine
8. Heading Home
9. In My Father's House (Live)
10. Forgiveness Is Gold
11. Buckets Of Rain
12. Still Livin' On
13. Worried Man Blues

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10849 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
Calm, cool, and collected, folksinger Eric Bibb approaches his craft in a style similar to that of Keb' Mo'. His honeyed voice and clean acoustic guitar wrap around songs like a flannel blanket. Bibb's music is filled with hope and uplifting sentiments without being spiritually pedantic. "Forgiveness Is Gold" and "So Glad" tell their stories in the titles alone. Even the lowly shoeshine man can approach his job and life with exuberance ("Dr. Shine") as he helps others improve their lives in his own small way. While these feelings could be juvenile, or--worse--corny, in the wrong hands, Bibb's songwriting and presentation elevate the material with a persuasive professionalism and integrity achieved through a career that spans ten years and as many albums. Credit also goes to producer Glen Scott, who brings just enough changes to the mix. Occasional tuba, snare drum, muted trumpet, and his keyboards add deeper, richer shades to these smooth watercolor sketches. The disc's lone live track, "My Father's House," injects subtle rawness into the proceedings and is certainly a highlight. "Still Livin' On" name checks Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotton, Rev. Gary Davis, Son House, and Pops Staples. It shows Bibb's dedication to, and love of, the folk/blues artists who have influenced and preceded him. The music and soul of these legends is imbedded in Bibb's own style that connects on this fine release despite--or maybe because--of its breezy, easygoing charm. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description
Guitarist Eric Bibb has spent more than three decades developing a reputation as one of the finest folk-blues balladeers of his generation. In that time, he has inspired audiences and listeners on either side of the Atlantic with music that is more than just entertainment. Amid the compelling melodies, masterful acoustic guitar work and stirring lyrics is an unmistakably spiritual element that enriches the lives of every person Bibb's music touches.

"Diamond Days" represents a return to the more rootsy style of Bibb's early albums. With an impressive line-up of musicians including Martin Simpson one of Britain's leading contemporary folk artists on acoustic guitar, Bibb keeps the overall sound very simple, enabling him to bring out his own astonishing musicianship, on the acoustic 12 string guitar, and focussing on the moving, meaningful lyrics.

An added bonus feature is an eleven minute enhanced video feature, entitled "An Afternoon In Paris". This captures Bibb visiting one of Paris's oldest guitar shops, playing different guitars and talking about his music.

Personnel: Eric Bibb - vocals, 12 string acoustic guitars, harmonica, handclaps, Lvox with Martin Simpson - Acoustic Guitars, Kahanga "Master Vumbi" Dekula - Hi-life Guitar, Glen Scott- Percussion, Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Levi B Saunders - Banjo, Nylon Guitar, Chris Fletcher - Percussion, Paul Waller - Bottle Neck Guitar, Gilles Bouvier -French Accordion, Figge Bostrom- Acoustic Guitars, Fender Bass, Janne Robertson - Drums, Percussion, Jenny Bohman - Harmonica, Micke Sorrenson - Trumpet, Dave Wilcewski - Tenor Sax, Buster Rock - Upright Bass, Jim Shearer - Tuba, Andreas Unge - Upright Bass, Mats Orberg - Chromatic Harmonica, Larry Crockett - Drums, Bjorn Gideonsson- Drums, Janne Petersson - Wurlitzer, and others.

Customer Reviews

perfect artist
This album is a fab reminder (if we needed one) of how wonderful this artist is. A deep, smooth voice, great guitar and magical lyrics.

I have all his albums and have seen him in concert and on the quality of this record I know I will be following him for years to come!

Highlights include Dr Shine, Forgiveness is Gold, the exubrant Shine On and a particular favourite of mine - In My Father's House (sung live!).

If you like good music then this is a great album, if you like Blues, well, you've probably either own it already or are ordering it this very minute.