Deb Callahan – Backbone
Blue Pearl Records – 2023
12 tracks: 48 minutes
Reviewer – Ken Billet
Backbone, Deb Callahan’s first studio album in eight years, provides plenty of ‘S’ appeal: soulful, sultry, sassy, and socially conscious. Her band is comprised of veteran musicians, all currently based in the Philadelphia area—guitarist Allen James, Garry Lee on bass, and the late Tom Walling on drums. (Walling passed away in November 2022 and Callahan dedicates Backbone in Walling’s memory.)
Callahan and her band had been together for sixteen years, and that familiarity shows in the tight arrangements and a soulful style to their musicianship.
Recorded live at Morningstar Studios, Backbone was produced by Chris Arms, a Philadelphia-based producer, songwriter, and guitarist. Arms, who plays slide guitar on the CD, co-wrote several of the songs with Callahan. Danny Schogger, from London, plays keyboards and has several songwriting credits. The album features several local Philly musicians, including: Jay Davidson on sax, Steve Jankowski on horns and trombone, John Colgan Davis on harmonica, and Charlene Holloway on backing vocals.
Callahan takes listeners on a journey of self-discovery, reconciliation, and triumph. The first third of the album are songs written about that self-discovery and the re-awakening of Callahan’s spirit. The CD opens with “What I’m Workin With” and tells us exactly who Deb Callahan is and where she intends to be in her journey. The song’s funk-filled beat and brassy arrangement provides the sass for Callahan’s re-awakening. Both “Big Girl Pants” featuring Allen James’s popping guitar licks, and “Rogue,” a slower, tradition-tinted blues number, set the stage for the next phase of Callahan’s journey.
Percy Mayfield’s “Danger Zone” is the perfect song to start Callahan’s re-emergence into a world gone mad. Her soulful refrain—the world’s in an uproar—and a slow, steady beat are reminders that blues songs are first and foremost about real folks dealing with real problems. Next is “Still Fighting To Be Free,” an incredibly strong statement on racial injustice with a “rootsy” rhythm and beat, highlighted by the soul-filled harmonica overlay of John Colgan Davis.
Backbone’s final third continues building momentum as Callahan reconciles her past, marches through our crazy, complex world and emerges victorious with tracks like “Cleaning House,” a country blues tune showcasing Chris Arms’ slide guitar chops, and another funk-filled tune, “Just What The Doctor Ordered.” So, when Callahan belts out “You’re the medicine I need…” in “…What The Doctor Ordered,” you know she’s back and triumphant—her journey of self-discovery now complete.
Deb Callahan wanted to make a statement and successfully does so with an album as diverse and soulful as her tremendous singing voice. Emotionally compelling, Backbone has just enough sass, sultriness, and social awareness to keep listeners engaged throughout Callahan’s personal and musical journey.
