The Larry Lee Ray Band “On The Right Track” (LP)

The Larry Lee Ray Band (AKA) Larry Lee Ray, And The Tradesman, are a blues rock trio from Ohio, consisting of Larry Lee Ray, Luke Ray, and Rex Weible, with a new full-length album On The Right Track, which never veers of the hot rails. The LP is full of cool guitar work and swings between great storytelling, blues, classic rock, and southern rock. On The Right Track kicks off with “I’m a Blue Collar Man” and right away the grit of the guitar reaches out and grabs you and you know it’s going to be good, and once he starts singing it takes you back to the blues rock days of Jeff Healy.

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“Take A Pill” is a cool shuffle with a comical twist, and where the guitar really starts to shine and take you on a thrill ride, with a rocking solo to go along with the fun-loving chorus. “Stone Cold” is a little more serious, but still on the dirty side, which On The Right Track is nothing short of, and this one has that 70s classic rock vibe to it, and it’s not the only appearance the genre makes on the album. Much more to be heard in that department.

“Shackles of the Working Man” is where the storytelling comes on strong with a strong Americana element, and some more cool guitar work to top it off and put the icing on the cake of another good song, this one with a southern flavor. The edges stay hard as each song goes, with something somewhere between the two previous songs with “Invisible Me” and one of the most contagious points of On The Right Track, and certainly one of my favorite songs on offer. I like the spacy groove of the whole song, from beginning to end.

“Young Enough’ also sounds sonically spacey in a good way, and it keeps this retro rock sound going, almost rockabilly meets spy rock with some hard rock breaks. This is another strong point on the album for me. It’s amazing how they sound classic and modern at the same time and it works like it or not. “Rich Girl” follows the same reckless attitude, somewhere between Link Ray, Billy Idol and Ramones. It’s not punk, but it’s punk hearted and they’re very careful at mixing it up throughout On The Right Track, by Larry Lee Ray And The Tradesman.

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“Hey You” keeps the ball rolling with another classic rocker with a storytelling approach, and a contagious rhythm with a nice fade-way. The band stay on point with “My Little Town” providing some of the best lyrics (and vocals) to he heard within On The Right Track, and another highlight with some more killer guitar work. Even the excellent closing song, “Hired Gun” leaves Larry Lee Ray’s undeniable signature blues rock stamp all over your ears by the time On The Right Track is over, and you’re beaten down and ready for another round of Larry Lee Ray And The Tradesman.

Mark Druery