Eric Burdon – ‘Til Your River Runs Dry – ABCKO

by | Jul 19, 2013 | Pop/Rock/World CD Reviews

Eric Burdon – ‘Til Your River Runs Dry – ABCKO Music & Records 8927-2, 55:03 ****:

(Artists include: Eric Burdon – vocals; Johnny Lee Schell, Bill Watts, Eric McFadden, Jon Cleary – guitar;  Mike Finnigan – Hammond B3 & piano; Terry Wilson, Reggie McBride – bass;  Terry Braunagel, Brannen Temple – drums)

At age 72, Eric Burdon still has the goods. As the powerful lead singer of The Animals over forty years ago during the British Invasion, Burdon recorded  “House of the Rising Sun” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and they became instant classics. Moving on into the 1970s with the inimitable band, War, Eric blended well with the soul and funk that this band was putting out. “Spill the Wine” was on everyone’s turntable then.

With various versions of The Animals, and as a solo act in the ’80s and ’90s, Eric kind of faded from the scene, but came roaring back in the new millennium, in 2004 with My Secret Life, and in 2006 recorded Soul of a Man. The backing band from those two CDs are back once again on Burdon’s latest release: ‘Til Your River Runs Dry. What is completely clear is that Burdon still has the juice to deliver a fine rock and roll experience.

Blending rock, blues, and a touch of funk provided by Mike Finnigan on the Hammond B-3, Eric shows he is a survivor with a rollicking mix of mostly new material plus a tribute to Bo Diddley on “Bo Diddley Special”, as well as on Bo’s own “Before You Accuse Me.”

Guitars wail on the anthemic “Water.” Eric shares the wisdom of maturity on “Memorial Day.” “Old Habits Die Hard” deals with social justice as Burdon grittily states “I missed middle age but I found the truth…Nothing bugs me, I’m Mr. Anarchy.” The theme of making things right continues on “Invitation to The White House” when Eric lectures the president on bringing the troops home, and dealing with our neighbors, both North and South.

Where Jagger’s Rolling Stones swagger and strut as senior citizens, Burdon provides welcome relief with a kickass band down in the trenches preaching the truth.

TrackList: Water, Memorial Day, Devil and Jesus, Wait, Old Habits Die Hard, Bo Diddley Special, In the Ground, 27 Forever, River is Rising, Medicine Man, Invitation to the White House, Before You Accuse Me

—Jeff Krow

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