Roger Salloom was not what I was expecting. His opening song on his latest CD, Last Call, instantly brought Bob Dylan to my mind, but the more I listened, the more he started sounding like just Roger Salloom.
The crowning achievement of his songwriting is that he tells stories – something hard to find these days, outside of country music (which tells sappy love tales). Salloom plays what he calls “Americana”, but it's folk the way folk used to be when Bob Dylan first came around – story telling, over music.
“One thing I learned/could pass it on to you/and I will if you don't mind/there's nothing more precious than your little life/and nothing more elusive than your time” he sings on “Here's To The Life”, just one of the many wise tidbits he shares throughout the album. Salloom could easily have sounded pretentious or like a Dylan wannabe, but instead, he sounds like the talented singer he is. His music is homey, yet somehow still remarkably new.
There are countless famous story tellers in American history. If Salloom keeps this up, he'll easily find himself among them.
Abbey K. Davis, MuzikReviews
cd: LAST CALL
Roger Salloom
Available from Roger Salloom's web site: www.rogersalloom.com
AND...
A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker (progdawg@hotmail.com).
First of all, ya gotta love the CD's title playing off this re-emergent musician's surname. Roger Salloom is another in a very welcome line of past greats who ran into the short end of the stick in major label business troubles (JP Jones and Mason Daring are just two examples chronicled here in FAME) or just plain decided to pursue other things in life and then found their way back home to the sonic muse. During the 60s, Salloom was a regular at the San Francisco Fillmore, appearing with Santana, Procol Harum, B.B. King, and many of the greats. As well, there and in other hallowed venues, he shared stages with Doc Watson, Van Morrison, John Prine, and a host of A-Listers, then, as the 70s wore on, moved to Nashville to concentrate on songwriting.
He later dropped out to raise a family as a single parent and became a syndicated cartoonist. Now Last Call demonstrates he hasn't lost one iota of past formidable talents in the interim. They have, if anything, increased. Salloom's past press rightly lumped him in with a number of estimables—Jimmy Reed. Geoff Muldaur, Jack Kerouac, etc.—but I'd add Paul Simon, Danny O'Keefe, Elvin Bishop, Harry Chapin, Mickey Newberry, even some Del Shannon and others because the man's range is quite broad within his genre. Too, there's a simple honesty and wryness to the lyrics that are touching, deeply affective, often a matter of a level confessional of shortcomings that no one listening can help but share a rueful and grinning remembrance with. The title cut was well chosen as the showcase's sobriquet, as it's a perfect blend of the player-singer-composer at the top of his game...even more so than the rest of the gems here, every inch of this release a pleasure.
The real category for what Saloom is doing isn't easy to fully place. It's rooted in folk, Americana, mellow rock, and the outfall of the troubadouric traditions but gains much in the process of gently bringing them together. A good deal of Last Call is upbeat even during the laments, the kind of sorrowful happiness memories can bring, human beings being so capable of holding emotional contradictions simultaneously—but, man o man, is the Golden Era ever alive and well in his work! And, of course, the raw edge in his voice is classic. Be prepared to be captivated.
Track List: O'Nello If This is It, I'm Ready Here's to Life. Life is Short. When You Can't Do Anything, I'm in Trouble Again, Last Call, Oh Ma Ma, Little Stevie, Fortunate to be Here, Spend It
All songs written by Roger Salloom except Oh Ma Ma (Salloom / Nigro).
Edited by: David N. Pyles (dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)
Ironically, as the music industry that shunned Salloom has collapsed, his star has been modestly rising in recent years.
Noah Schaffer, Worcester Magazine
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WE KNOW MONEY IS TIGHT SO ALL OF ROGER'S CDS ARE NOW $9.95
and can be purchased at Florence Records at leold@comcast.net, through www.rogersalloom.com, or from cdBaby.
Available cds are LAST CALL, LA TE DA, EVENTUALLY, and SO GLAD I MADE
IT, the original soundtrack for the award-winning music documentary So
Glad I Made It: the Saga of Roger Salloom, America's Best Unknown
Songwriter.
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REVIEWS FOR the cd LAST CALL:
There are countless famous story tellers in American history. If Salloom keeps this up, he'll easily find himself among them.
Abbey K. Davis .. – MuzikReviews.com
“ranks among the masters of singer/songwriters, becoming known for being unknown.” The Maine Switch,Portland,ME
“….gems here, every inch of this release a pleasure. The real category for what Salloom is doing isn't easy to fully place. ….sorrowful happiness, memories can bring, human beings being so capable of holding emotional contradictions simultaneously, but, man o man, is the Golden Era ever alive and well in his work! Be prepared to be captivated. Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker
“Compelling.” Jim Hynes, The Alternate Root and Elmore Magazine
…..once you start really tuning into the lyrics, a deeper story is revealed… an almost existential perspective on life; "The best thing I do is nothing, and I'm doing that the best I can," he observes on that song, somehow making it sound like the wisest life choice imaginable, and that little magic trick is just where Salloom's true gift seems to lie. All Music, J. Allen
“….this is the off beat winner you’ve been on the look out for a while.”
Chris Spector, Midwest Record,Chicago, Il 10/26/09
Watch for Vintage Guitar Magazine’s forthcoming issue in December for a full cd review.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
View the video "Nello" at http:/www.youtube.com/user/ADCFilmAndDesign or on YallWire.com "Nello" is now at 31 on that's site's Yalturnative Chart.
Our videos have been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times on YALLWIRE, YouTube, MySpace, ...
Musicians contributing to the "Last Call" cd include Charles Neville, Bekka Bramlett, and Kathy Chiavola.
Roger sends a heart-felt thank you to the following who were part of the "Nello" video: 16-year old Kai Matsuda, Alyssa Brequet, and Laura Cayer. The dashing Patrick Wall for portraying Nello; the beautiful Alexis Abran-Bourke, Emily Riberio, and Kiera Jaffin.
Special thanks to lighting wizard and award-winning film maker, Kermit Cole; Key Grip - Mike Deaver, and Bill "maximus creativus" Hurley who conceived the format and ran the entire production!
Thanks, too, for the added lustre of Louise Deaver, Jim Greco, Pete Fournier, Paul Carlson, and Jean Simmons.
Huge thanks to musicians in the band: 18-year veteran with Roger, trusted JD; blues-master Tom Filiault; and Dave "steady eddy" Lincoln (no relation to Abraham!).
Solid appreciation and affection to Donna Salloom who keeps everyone feeling good and who keeps Roger on task!
Thank you so much to the management and staff of the gracious HOTEL NORTHAMPTON, all of whom were kind hosts for the "Nello" shoot.
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ROGER SALLOOM has appeared in concert with Van Morrison,Pete Seeger, Muddy Waters,Maria Muldaur, Joan Armatrading, Leon Russell, Phoebe Snow, Carl Perkins, Jonathan Edwards, Orleans, Cheech and Chong, Doc, Watson, NRBQ, Aztec Two Step, Melanie, Gino Vanelli, John Prine, Procal Harum, Jerry Jeff Walker,Rick Danko, Paul Butterfield, Santana, Jose Feliciano, Fairport Convention, The Band, The Bodeans and more.
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3 other ROGER SALLOOM VIDEOS STILL GETTING VIEWS on www.yallwire.com: TAPPIN THAT THING, LA TE DA, IN THE SNOW
Total views to date: 98,923!
Please visit the Yallwire site to view and rate the videos. Thanks very much.
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CURRENT airplay for songs from LAST CALL:
1. WXLV - BETHLEHEM, PA
2. RADIO FREE AMERICANA.CO
3. MD/DJ Country Stew/Radio Compagnie,Netherlands
4. KPFT - Houston, TX
5. CIMR, Dublin, Ireland
6. RadioFreeAmericana.com, Warren "Cat" Catlett
7. BayFm, Byron Bay,The Cowboy's Sweetheart, New South Wales
Australia
8. KVMR - Nevada City CA
9. Wildman Steve Radio, Auburn, AL
10. WIKX - Port Charlotte, FL
11. WPHB - Philipsburg, PA
12. KFAN-FM - Johnson City, TX
13. WMUD - Burlington, VT
14. KAXE - Grand Rapids, MI
15. KDNK - Carbondale, CO
16. KOPN - Columbia-Jefferson City, MO
17. WETS - Johnson City, NC
18. WMSR - Auburn, MD
19. WKZE - Rhinebeck-Woodstock, NY
20. WWUH - Hartford, CT
21. RADIOGIRL - Radio Winschoten-Dollard Radio,Netherlands
22. WGOE.ORG, VA
23. WHAY - Whitley City, KY
24. KVNF - Grand Junction, CO
25. WUMB - Boston, MA
26. www.dutchrootsraido.com/interest
27. www.paulvangelder.org/playlists
28. www.highway61.it, Spazio, Italy
29. KFAI - Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
30. KDNK - Carbondale, CO
31. KOPN - Columbia, MO
32. www.insurgentcountry.nl, The Netherlands
33. The Billy Block Show - Nashville, TN
34. WQBR - State College, PA
35. WMPG - Portland, ME
36. KRCB - Santa Rosa, CA
37. KRSH - Santa Rosa, CA
38. WSYC - Harrisburg, Lebanon, Lancaster,York, PA
39. WNCW - Greenville-Spartonburg-Ashville, NC
40. WERU - E. Orland, ME
41. WIKX - Fort Myers/Naples, FL
42. WQBR- McElhattan, PA
43. WVTF - Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA
44. WYOU/WRRW - Williamsburg, VA
45. WSCA - Portsmouth, NH
46. WRSI - Northampton, MA
47. WMKY - Lexington, KY
48. WOUB - Athens, OH
49. WYCE - Grand Rapids, MI
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When recalling memories of high points in my musical career, I often think of RICK DANKO, (12/29/1942 - 12/10/1999) a musician who still ranks high in my heart as an inspiration and example of immense talent and authenticity. I savor the memory of having him join me on stage, playing along, when I was performing as an opening act for The Band. May he rest in peace...gone, yes; forgotten, no.
IN MEMORY OF GUITARIST HAL BENOIT WHO DIED ON MARCH 8, 2008 IN
NASHVILLE, TN
Learn more about this talented musician at www.myspace.com/halbenoit
Roger "is... a superb story teller with a good sense of rhythm and a great sense of timing, and the music is incredibly infectious." - Rolling Stone Magazine
"His voice is the most extraordinary thing. It has something of Bob Dylan's rasp in it, but its warmer, with a richness all its own. His singing casts a spell- your attention is immediately riveted to its smooth, honeyed texture."
-Kristy Eldredge, GloriousNoise.com
"The French call it je ne sais quoi - that something special. An apt phrase to describe singer/songwriter Roger Salloom whose humor and wit almost eclipse his talented musicianship. The slow songs are...breathtaking." Kendra Thurlow, The Valley Advocate
"...The writing talent of Dylan or Guthrie...musical genius...hilarious and tragic, kindhearted and careless, all the complexities of a real human being." -IMDb
Michael Caruso and the Disciples in DECEMBER'S Music Connection Magazine......Top 100 Artists..Foto on Page 76...Available at All Local News Stands and Online @ http://www.musicconnection.com ...Grab One TODAY....Available Nationwide.....Many Thanks To Our Crew and All Our Fans..Happy Holidays and Be Safe...m.c.
EMAIL PAT TO BOOK ALL SHOWS nashvillemusicgroup@yahoo.com
WE WORK WITH TOP STARS-- CMT, GAC, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, CAN YOU DUET, NASHVILLE STAR, AMERICAN IDOL, #1 WRITERS, NEW & UPCOMING WRITERS & ARTISTS ************************** NEW SHOW ON SUNDAY REVIVE EVERY SUNDAY STARTING DEC 6 6:00 PM TO 9:00 PM 1707 CHURCH ST Nashville,TN ************************************************* THE RUSTY NAIL- MUST BE 21 AND UP Wednesdays 6:30-9:30PM 4054 Andrew Jackson Way Hermitage, TN 37076 ************************************* NASHVILLE PALACE Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-9:00PM 2611 McGavock Pike Nashville,TN 37214
The Radio Show is www.nbrn.fm and it will air on the web on Sundays at 8p CST. If you tune in now you can listen to past Radio Shows. Please be sure to sign the guest book each time you tune in.
"I Got News For You" Bekka Bramlett's new CD release on Shongaloo Records, is available at CD Baby......NOW!!!! The CD features the HIT SINGLE, rockin' music row, AND MOVIN UP THE CHARTS....."WHAT'S ON MY MIND" co-written by Tamara Champlin, Dennis Matkosky and Michael Caruso, currently climbing the charts. To purchase the CD visit http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/BekkaBramlett CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!
Also CHECK OUT the DISCIPLES NEW TUNES on their site http://www.myspace.com/michaelsdisciples "For Tessa," "When the Devil Starts to Pray," and "Madelyn." All comments and thoughts appreciated!
By the way, there are only a few shows left in Oregon and Washington, so be sure to check out the Bill Champlin Band promoting his latest release on Dream Makers Music, "No Place Left to Fall," an awesome new album, featuring tunes co-written by Michael Caruso being the title track and "Tuggin' On Your Sleeve." For additional information on the CD and Tour visit http://www.billchamplin.net
Just heard "Gotta Stop Killin' 'em Boys...superb! (sadly so, we'd rather be singing love songs...) Straight forward, to the point, don't pussy-foot around the topic...
The Radio Show is www.nbrn.fm and it will air on the web on Sundays at 8p CST. If you tune in now you can listen to past Radio Shows. Please be sure to sign the guest book each time you tune in.
LOVE WHAT YOU DO KEEP IT UP
LETS BOOK YOU
EMAIL PAT TO BOOK ALL SHOWS
nashvillemusicgroup@yahoo.com
WRITERS NIGHTS, RADIO & TV SHOWS
WE WORK WITH TOP STARS-- CMT, GAC, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, CAN YOU DUET, NASHVILLE STAR, AMERICAN IDOL, #1 WRITERS, NEW & UPCOMING WRITERS & ARTISTS
************************************************* THE RUSTY NAIL- MUST BE 21 AND UP Wednesdays 6:30-9:30PM 4054 Andrew Jackson Way Hermitage, TN 37076 *************************************
I loved the show at Black-Eyed Sally's last night Roger. You and your whole band were fantastic. I look forward to more opportunities to hear you guys perform your great music live!!!! (I'll keep my fingers crossed that you do come to the Woodstock, NY area!)
I want to present my brand-new recording. I hope you'll enjoy it very much. Please, write your comments and I'm looking for contracts. Are you interested in collaboration? Paul Dubrovsky
I can't reply back on the message because my school computer blocks it :( I know Kevin Hall because he was my biology teacher and yea we are talking about the same one lol. He told me to add you because he said you might have some pointers on promotion. I am a band promoter. If you want to check out what I do.... myspace.com/pnwbandline Thank you for the add -Hannah Marie
It was great seeing you again this past week :) Thanks for all the help and support! My friend got back to me about the swing dancing and might be interested. It's pretty far away for her, but she'd still like more information. What's your email so I can give it to her?
I would love to come back to MA to see you play the Pines, but the new music is GREAT, so that will have to work for me here in Ohio. Thanks for the add!
Online Now!
