Phat Blues Music (1998)

About this title: On his debut full-length album, Kelly Bell covers all the bases the he tackles in his live shows, and in the process attempts to master every possible genre and subgenre of post-war black music: blues, funk, and soul. The influences of hip-hop are found in every song, so there was no need for Bell to forge headlong in that direction, though given his enthusiasm for every hip form of urban music, it wouldn't be a surprise if he did. Across 19 tracks Bell leads his versatile band through party anthems ("Homegrown"), lowdown a cappella soul ("Losing Myself"), and some convincing acoustic blues ( ... read more

Tracks:

1. Sweet Wind & Soul
2. Homegrown [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]
3. Callin' Ma Bell
4. F.B.I. [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]
5. Down in the Bottom [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]
6. Say One Thing [Love/Bell/Evans/Hil]
7. One World [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]
8. Gibb's Groove
9. Only One [Bell]
10. Dear Maggie [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]
11. Losing Myself [Bell]
12. Praise to the Woman [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]
13. Look My Way [Evans/Hill/Rice/Sex]
14. Barfly and the.... [Prankster]
15. Bluesman [Bell]
16. Rollin' and Tumblin' [Traditional]
17. Somebody's Fool
18. Mean to Me [Love]
19. Homegrown [Radio Edit] [Bell/Evans/Hill/Ric]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.