Mighty Sam McClain has worn a lot of shoes; from cotton-picker to grace shaker, homeless wanderer to world-wide entertainer, alienated outsider to devoted husband, and most of all, as a simple soul singer. His pulpit is the blues, his message is the blues, and he preaches it with God-given guts. Understandably, part of his appeal lies in his unashamed honesty about his times of deep despair. But he never leaves you stranded there, suffering in sorrowful isolation. His crystal clear message is the hope and healing found in the Lord because McClain knows about the kind of second chances that only come from the heart of a loving God. He has had more than his share of returns to grace, and lived to sing about it. The result is his signature red-clay soul music deeply steeped in down home blues with healthy splashes of gospel messages for good flavor. All of these musical forms are seamlessly combined, owing inspiration to them all while transcending them as well.
This perfectly titled collection, Joy and Pain, was recorded live in Germany during Detmold's Annual Blues Festival on October 11, 1997, with the exception of the Ronnie Earl cover, "A Soul That's Been Abused," which came from an October 9th concert in Bremen. CrossCut Records has an apparent wealth of skill when it comes to recording live shows. The production here is nearly flawless, with just enough crowd noise to prove it's live, and a wonderful musical mix that makes you feel like you were right there. At least you'll wish you were. Gratefully, many of these songs featured on this disc are still on McClain's touring set list, which presently could support another disc or two worth of highlights culled from the live versions of his latest studio album, Journey.
The band on this live album is not the current Mighty Sam McClain band line-up. No matter. McClain has an ear for talent and attracts some of the best players you can find. Whatever they're getting paid for playing these little venues across Europe and the U.S., it "ain't enough." They do it out of love and devotion, and it shows. The band rattles and roars with appropriate precision and panache throughout all of these tracks. The guitar wails, the horns heave, the organ weaves, and the drums and bass keep everything on track. The combination is supremely professional and powerful. McClain knows he's lucky to have them.
When it comes to the blues, McClain, the consummate performer, perfectly personifies both hurt and happiness with his husky voice. When he sings, "I'm So Lonely," about a disheartening night on the beach, you'll feel compelled to step up with offers of friendship.
I watch the tides roll in
I stand there and watch them
Roll away again
Thinking about that woman that I lost
I'm so lonely, oh, I'm so lonely
I'm so lonely that I could die.
This is the blues as real as it gets. Yet, later in a trademark flurry of hope in "Forgive and Forget," he proudly proclaims:
Lost in hell by revenge and hate
Looking for the answer that will change your faith
Stumbling in darkness
With no one to turn to
Searching our souls, Lord
Trying to find a clue.
Listen my friends, let me tell you what to do
The answer is simple
And it begins with me and you.
You got to forgive, you got to forget...
Let your love light shine - feel the peace of mind.
These represent both the poles of joy and pain in the Mighty One's messages, and they were born out of the kind of life struggles that most of us would be grateful not to experience. He's been on both sides of the tracks, and now takes everything as it comes day by day. Perhaps it all boils down to gratitude, which he reflects on in his spoken dedication to "Forgive and Forget":
"I dedicate this song always to the homeless people, the broken-hearted people, the downtrodden, the broken-spirited people all over the world. Because, you see, I know all about being homeless myself. I promised God that when I got here before you people that I would not forget where I came from. And that I would sing praises to His name and lift up His people in the name of soul. So I stand here before you this evening in the name of love. In the name of soul. We've got to take care of one another; we've got to love one another; we've got to learn how to be good to one another. Love is a mighty fine thing, and I'm so glad that I can be a part of this thing called love, oh Lord."
After all this, "Where You Been So Long," his lush love song for his wife, Sandra, is merely a bona fide bonus revealing again a man who wears his heart so obviously on his sleeve, it may as well be pulsating neon. Near the end, McClain and band turn "Long Train Running," popularized by the Doobie Brothers, into a gritty declaration of God's universal love. When he belts "We gotta bring the babies, the Lord told us to bring all the babies...we got room for everybody" you can easily forget where you stand on the bitter abortion debate, such is the heart-felt compassion clearly communicated and received. You may feel like boogieing til the cows come home, but you won't miss the message to accept God as the ultimate wellspring of love. Though a cover, this song captures McClain's powerful mix of bluesy soul and sanctification. Just like a steam engine bound for glory, you'll want to get onboard.
Mighty Sam McClain is that rare breed of entertainer taking sanctified soul and down home blues and giving it all back to God. Joy and Pain is your front row ticket to a live experience too few have had the distinct pleasure of witnessing. Slap this one in to feel the pains of life, and testify to the pleasures of heavenly release.
5 tocks
