A Little Something for Valentine’s Week- $10 off Books & Music orders over $100. Use code LOVE10. Expires 15 Feb.Save $10 Now
Brother's Keeper
By
Rating
Product Description
Product Details
Performer Notes
Neville Brothers: Aaron Neville (vocals, keyboards, percussion); Art Neville (vocals, keyboards); Charles Neville (vocals, saxophone, keyboards); Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion); Eric Struthers (guitar); Tony Hall (bass, background vocals); Willie Green (drums).
Additional personnel: Malcolm Burn (various instruments, background vocals); Steve Jordan (vocals, guitar, bass, drums); Herman "Hack" Bartholomew (vocals, trumpet, piano); Ivan Neville (vocals); Daryl Johnson (guitar, keyboards, bass, background vocals); Renard Poche (guitar, trombone); Brian Stolz (acoustic guitar); Bill Dillon, Daniel Lanois, Eugene Ross, George Sartin, Leo Nocentelli (guitar); Tim Green (tenor saxophone); Snakebite, Fred Kemp, Roger Lewis, Reggie Houston (baritone saxophone); Emanuel Steib (trombone); Wally Wilson (keyboards); Ronald Jones (drums); Gaynielle Neville, Linda Ronstadt, Buffy Sainte Marie, Marva Wright (background vocals).
Producers: Malcolm Burn, The Neville Brothers, Steve Jordan, David A. Stewart.
Engineers: Mark Howard, Charles Brady, Don Smith, David Farrell.
Neville Brothers: Aaron Neville (vocals, keyboards, percussion); Art Neville (vocals, keyboards); Charles Neville (vocals, saxophone, keyboards); Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion); Eric Struthers (guitar); Tony Hall (bass, background vocals); Willie Green (drums).
Additional personnel: Malcolm Burn (various instruments, background vocals); Steve Jordan (vocals, guitar, bass, drums); Herman "Hack" Bartholomew (vocals, trumpet, piano); Ivan Neville (vocals); Daryl Johnson (guitar, keyboards, bass, background vocals); Renard Poche (guitar, trombone); Brian Stolz (acoustic guitar); Bill Dillon, Daniel Lanois, Eugene Ross, George Sartin, Leo Nocentelli (guitar); Tim Green (tenor saxophone); Snakebite, Fred Kemp, Roger Lewis, Reggie Houston (baritone saxophone); Emanuel Steib (trombone); Wally Wilson (keyboards); Ronald Jones (drums); Gaynielle Neville, Linda Ronstadt, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Marva Wright (background vocals).
Producers: Malcolm Burn, The Neville Brothers, Steve Jordan, David A. Stewart.
Engineers: Mark Howard, Charles Brady, Don Smith, David Farrell.
Personnel: Steve Jordan (vocals, guitar, drums); Charles Neville (vocals, saxophone, keyboards); Herman Bartholomew (vocals, trumpet, piano); Aaron Neville (vocals, keyboards, percussion); Art Neville (vocals, keyboards); Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion); Ivan Neville (vocals); Renard Poch‚ (guitar, trombone); Darryl Johnson (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Daniel Lanois , Eugene Ross, Eric Struthers, Bill Dillon, Leo Nocentelli (guitar); Brian Stoltz (acoustic guitar, keyboards); Tim Green (tenor saxophone); Fred Kemp, Snakebite, Reggie Houston, Roger Lewis (baritone saxophone); Emanuel Steib (trombone); Wally Wilson (keyboards); Ronald Jones , Willie Green (drums); Malcolm Burn, Marva Wright, Tony Hall, Buffy Sainte-Marie (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Don Smith ; Joe Blaney; Malcolm Burn; Bruce Lampcov.
Recording information: Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, LA.
Photographers: Larry Williams ; Sherry Etheridge.
Unknown Contributor Role: Tony Hall.
Arranger: Dave Stewart .
Why doesn't more R&B sound like this? Although hampered by a poor mix, Brother's Keeper is nevertheless a classic example of what makes the Neville Brothers so good -- and so frustrating. Tracks like the booty-shaking funk of "Brother Jake" or the gospel-tinged "Steer Me Right" are full of soulful vocals and wonderful harmonies. Aaron Neville's timeless voice is displayed beautifully on "Fearless," where he is joined by Linda Ronstadt for one of the strongest tracks on the record. The Neville Brothers' ecumenical spirituality permeates every second of Brother's Keeper, making for a few awkward moments (like the head-scratching opener "Brother Blood," for example), but a few moments of true sublimity (as when Art Neville spits "Pro choice-no choice/We're sending our sons and daughters to their slaughter" on "Sons and Daughters"). The pop material on Brother's Keeper, such as Link Wray's "Fallin' Rain," works well, but other tracks, like "River of Life," seem forced. If the Neville Brothers showed a little discretion with regard to their lyrics and cut a couple tracks, they would have had a much stronger album, which in a way is as good a statement as one could make about their entire career. ~ Daniel Gioffre
Professional Reviews
Spin (10/90) - "The group's signature sound remains seductive...it's signature achievement is that of a group dealing out a bunch of influences with a ton of experience...for a group on the cusp of continuing platinum, they've managed not to lose their cool."
