Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps

Bad At Being Good

Momojorecords

Teresa James is originally from the Houston, Texas area but has long called Los Angeles home. Her earliest recordings have each been reissued several times, as all of her albums remain in demand. James’ fifth album, Bottom Line, earned her a Blues Award nomination. Subsequent releases include 2012’s Come On Home; 2016’s Bonafide; 2018’s Here in Babylon; 2019’s Live, which served as a retrospective; 2021’s Rose Colored Glasses Vol. 1; and 2023’s Rose Colored Glasses Vol. 2.

Bad at Being Good is Teresa James’ fourteenth album. She is a Grammy-nominated vocalist and pianist whose mastery of rockin’ roadhouse blues has become her signature sound. She is backed by an exceptional ensemble that includes bassist and producer Terry Wilson; guitarists Billy Watts, Dean Parks, and John Porter; keyboardists Kevin McKendree, Jon Cleary, and Bennett Salvay; and drummers Tony Braunagel and Jay Bellerose. Additional percussion is provided by Richard Milsap, while David P. Jackson adds accordion. The horn section features Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Paulie Cerra on saxophone. All of the songs are written by Wilson or co-written by Wilson with James, with one exception. The closing track is written by Gary Nicholson and Terry Wilson.

The album opens with “Love’s a Full-Time Job,” as Teresa sings, “I know a man, I love him through the good times, through the bad times… love’s a full-time job, baby, you got me workin’ overtime,” supported by the fabulous horn work of Leonard and Cerra.

“Is Anything Alright” follows as a slow blues, once again highlighted by the horn section. Teresa asks, “It seems with everything I try, I try to understand what you’re going through… is anything alright?” capturing frustration and longing with emotional honesty.

On “I Got This Thing,” Teresa declares, “I got this thing about you, baby… I just can’t live without you.” “All About the Benjamins” tackles the subject of money, with Billy Watts on guitar and Kevin McKendree on organ, as Teresa moans, “They say that money can’t buy happiness… it means everything’s for sale.”

“Trouble in Paradise” explores relationship strain as Teresa warns, “Stop what you’re doin’, you know there’s trouble in paradise,” featuring guitar work from Dean Parks and percussion from Richard Milsap.

On “Angel on My Shoulder,” Teresa delivers a heartfelt performance, singing, “I couldn’t change direction on my own… you’ll always care for me, you’re my angel on my shoulder,” with McKendree adding rich Hammond B-3 textures.

“Treat Her Like You Want Her to Treat You” is another slow blues, as Teresa pleads, “When you got a love you want to hold onto, you gotta treat her like you want her to treat you.”

The title track, “Bad at Being Good,” features Jon Cleary on piano, with Teresa wailing, “You always want to push it too far… you’re so bad at being good,” capturing the tension at the heart of the song.

On “Say What You Will,” Teresa belts, “Say what you want… you know how I feel when I see you smile,” celebrating love and connection.

“We Came to Rock” brings high energy, with Tony Braunagel on drums, as Teresa shouts, “We came to rock, we came to roll… just got paid, we’re gonna dance all night long.”

“Anytime Is Alright” finds Teresa singing with optimism and devotion, “Any day, any night… anytime is alright… there’s no better time than right now.”

The album closes with “Close Down the Blues Bar,” co-written by Gary Nicholson and Terry Wilson. Teresa croons, “The story of my life… I’m gonna close down the blues bar,” ending the album on a soulful and reflective note.

Teresa James’ extensive career includes recordings with Walter Trout, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Tommy Castro, Stephen Bruton, Randy Newman, LeeRoy Parnell, Neil Diamond, and others. Her live performances have included appearances with Marcia Ball, Levon Helm, Lloyd Jones, and Delbert McClinton. James and Wilson, her partner in both music and life, have proven to be a perfect team. Wilson’s songwriting combined with James’ expressive interpretation has earned her three Contemporary Blues Female Artist BMA nominations. As Levon Helm once said, “Teresa James is a true original. When she sings, you can feel it in your bones.”

Richard Ludmerer

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