Genre: rock
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title: Hell of a Spell
Company: San Antonio, Texas
Catalog: TAK 7075
Year: 1980
Country/State: Texas
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: --
Available: 2
GEMM catalog ID: 5017
Price: $10.00
Most Americans were unaware of the fact the country lost a treasure when Doug Sahm passed away in 1999.
Sahm's appearance in the 1979 film "American Grafitti" served to reinvigorate his career and found him signed by the small Takoma label. 1980's "Hell of a Spell" teamed him with producers Dan Healy and Jerry Meltzer. The album liner notes tell you the story behind the album:
"Takoma president Denny Brice said, "I want a Doug Sahm blues records." So we packed the bus in Texas summer heat and we were off to the land of rock dreams, California. We needed great sound - enter Dan Healy, Grateful Dead sound wizard. California know how and Texas soul, that's what I was after."
While the focus was on Sham's blues roots (the album carried a dedication to the late bluesman Eddie James, aka Guitar Slim), the eleven selections actually served to showcase Sahm's diversity, including stabs at Cajun, county, reggae (the title track), rock, rockabilly, Texas-styled blues, Tex-Mex and even Western swing moves. It's all here ... Credited with penning the majority of the songs, Sahm seldom sounded as comfortable and happy; in fact the tight sound leaves the impression Sahm and company had a great time in Santa Barbara cutting these songs. So what were the highlights? Well my choices would include the jazzy 'All the Way To Nothing', the rocking 'Hanging On By a Thread', and the bluesy ballad 'I'll Take Care of You', though to be honest, there really wasn't a dud on the track listing ...
"Hell of a
Spell" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Tunnel Vision (Doug Sahm) - 2:29
2.) Ain't Into Lettin' You Do (Doug Sahm) - 3:49
3.) All the Way To Nothing (Doug Sahm) - 3:16
4.) Hanging On By a Thread (Doug Sahm) - 2:37
5.) I'll Take Care
of You - 4:19
(side
2)
1.) The Things I Used To Do - 5:17
2.) I Don't Mind At All (Doug Sahm) - 1:58
3.) Nothin' But the Blues - 2:15
4.) Hell of a Spell (Doug Sahm) - 3:30
5.) Can't Fake It (Doug Sahm) - 4:16
6.) Next Time You See Me (Doug Sahm) - 3:23