WALKING TALL – Walking Tall, Vol. 1 (2014)
* real CD version
WALKING TALL was formed around 1995 in Northern California and the band soon started to play their original material not only in the Sacramento area, but also the Pacific Coast.
Walking Tall recorded a debut CD but never was released because their label folded in 1999. There were endless negotiations with Columbia Records when the all members decided enough was enough; Walking Tall was laid to rest, or so it seemed.
2010 saw original members lead vocalist Jimmy Tuttle (ex- Vamp Le Stat), and drummer Curt Cassell (Mad Attraction) revisiting the old material. After much consideration, they decided to re-activate the band.
Other original members had moved on and did not return, however James Scott Johnson was recruited on guitar & backing vocals, and shortly afterward bassist / backing vocalist Rob Sundquist was also brought into the fold. Walking Tall returns in 2011 to finally release the record by themselves and play local as well as national musical events.
Now Tuttle and the guys are re-releasing the CD in a new press, with fresh artwork and additional tracks (also on sale as digital download) all entitled “Walking Tall, Vol. 1”.
Seems Walking Tall was quite hot on stage because when Frank Hannon of Tesla saw them live at one show agreed to produce their record. Tesla’s bassist Brian Wheat was also involved in the studio co-producing some songs.
What we find in “Walking Tall, Vol. 1” is pure and simple: classic American hard rock with nice hooks and a solid bluesy groove.
To make it more clear; Walking Tall sounds a lot, a lot like Tesla. Not only in the upbeat rockers such as “Hotel Sinn”, “She’s Changed” or the great midtempo “All Over Again” (one of my favorites), but also on the various ballads to be found in the CD like the highly harmonized “Shine On” or the acoustically based “Any Other Way” and “Not How It Turned Out”.
There’s other interesting cuts like the .38 Special influenced “Attention”, or “Been So Wrong” and especially “Let Me Know” more hard rocking akin Trixter, all tracks surely recorded at a different period.
Occurs that the music in “Walking Tall, Vol. 1” are in fact pre-production demos, really well recorded / mixed and although the sound is quite good, don’t expect a major label output.
But do not let that take you away from “Walking Tall, Vol. 1”, it’s a very good collection of songs with ‘real’ flesh & blood, melodic and rocking.
Easily Recommended.
01 – Attention
02 – Any Other Way
03 – Hotel Sinn
04 – Not How It Turned Out
05 – Been So Wrong
06 – Goodbye Yesterday
07 – She’s Changed
08 – All Over Again
09 – Let Me Know
10 – Shine On
11 – Sweet Lady Jane
Jimmy Tuttle – Lead Vocals, Guitar
James Scott Johnson – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Rob Sundquist – Bass, Backing Vocals
Curt Cassell – Drums, Backing Vocals
Produced by Frank Hannon & Brian Wheat
BUY IT !
www.sestudios.net/walkingtall
www.amazon.com/Walking-Tall-Vol-1/dp/B00IXOA8M0
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