Search - R.B. Morris :: Take That Ride

The man who lives here is loony

stoutpint@icx.net | Tennessee | 12/18/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"R.B is a near-legend here in Knoxville. Take that Ride is filled with images of moonshine runnin', fist-fightin' and hard-drinkin' down in the mountain hollers. R.B.'s take on Robert Mitchum's Ballad of Thunder Road puts you in a hopped-up Plymouth sliding around a dirt road, one step in front of the law. Just like O'Hanlon, I'll take tobacco in my tea."

Top-notch songwriting

J. Reynolds | Far From Inner Asia | 09/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"R.B. sings stories like few folks who are alive today. This is a CD to treasure and send to all who you love as a dandy gift. For a real treat, track down his limited-release cassette "Local-Man", which features one of the finest back-up bands ever."

Take That Ride by R.B. Morris

Erik Berg Backrow King | Winnipeg, MB, Canada | 08/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"His sound is Tom Petty without the harder rock, Bob Dylan without the simplicity and Mark Knopfler without the raging electric guitar. His voice is Bob Dylan's without the nasal grit, Neil Young's although a little lower and Gordon Lightfoot's without being so aloof. Essentially RB Morris's sound is a chameleon and its only congruence is his down to earth voice, his rare sound and his honest lyrics.



Every song is a new exploration from the opening rock song, World Owes Me to the raw country song Take that Ride into the unique philosophical song Bottom of the Big Black Hull. RB Morris is an incredible singer and one of the best, unrecognized songwriters but not nearly a singer/songwriter with his beautiful music compositions.



Basically there is something in this CD for everyone. World Owes Me is a song to dance to, to sing along to, to drive to. It's free and rocking but RB Morris accompanies with it his words about life: 'I've been working and I've been giving-The world owes me, some kind of living'. But he doesn't lose a beat with great wordplay: 'No I ain't no Robin Hood - But I ain't no Mack the Knife - Hey this ain't no livelihood - This is just a way of life.'.



'Ridin' with O'Hanlon' is a song about intellectual freedom that doesn't feel a bit lost or bogged down by a philosophy, even reflecting on it in his first few lines: 'I was riding with O'Hanlon in those wild and heady days.' From RB Morris' experience with the beatniks he drew a great sense of poetry and literature but didn't get lost in their mindset.



The third song, 'They say there's a Time'. Is like a beautifully sung poem put to great music. His words are so thoughtful and speculative without seeming arrogant, he just seems like an honest singer/poet that has put together this compilation.



'Hell on a Poor Boy' is extensively reminiscent of Bob Dylan and his gritty voice singing it makes you love the song instantly let alone the amazing bluesy songbreaks, this is a definite upbeat highlight.



The following song brings in a new aspect: a true feeling of drawing upon his own life for lyrics in 'Take Time to Love'. It's sweetly sad but he also draws upon his way with words in lyrics like 'I learned my lesson but I forget.'.



The next song is probably the funnest song on the CD, 'The Ballad of Thunder Road'. A rocking blues song drawing upon a story of a 'mountain boy [who] ran illegal alcohol'. With a fun guitar lick and a rockabilly backing with a Johnny Cash reminiscent bass line.



He moves into one of the simplest songs, Take that Ride one of his most distinctly country songs, talking about perhaps fear or just an honest look at his life. With a simple guitar, bass and drum kit backing his moving lyrics sung with raw vocals.



A slow country song follows that, 'Roy'. With a different voice he seems to sing a song about a homeless person it's not quite sad but it's a particularly happy song. If you like country this is a bittersweet gem.



'Dog Days' is a song that is RB Morris' most normal song. Compared to the rest of the unique song this song kind of just blends in and although gives a full spectrum is not the best.



The most poetic, honest and beautiful song is the next song, 'Pot Hole Street'. A reflexive song on his youth with certain subtle references to other musicians and poets, the most obvious one being, 'I was always hanging out in the leaves of grass'.



'The Bottom of the Big Black Hull' is a fun song that seems to perfectly appropriate to the philosophical musings he sings in this song. They way he talks about the important issues he mentions are humorous: this is one of the top songs.



'Glory Dreams' is the final song and has a completely different feel, slightly honky-tonk. It would fit perfectly in 'O Brother Where Art Thou'.



In summary this album should be more popular than it is and RB Morris should be more recognized but I have more respect in him doing this seemingly for the actual music as the profit must be so small. I hope he gains respect but not fame so the integrity of this incredible artist remains. This CD is awesome. Get it hands down, no questions asked."