Been A Long Time Coming
Rating 3 1/2
The Lansing, Mich.-based Root Doctor will probably never place anyone on any fan polls of all-star artists, but the quintet fits together hand in glove. Their soul-blues sound is powered by the booming voice of Mississippi-born Freddie Cunningham and the Hammond B-3 wizardry of Jim Alfredson, with a rock-solid rhythm section. Guitarist Greg Nagy is a welcome non-spotlight-hogging presence as well.
The five originals among the dozen tunes on "Been a Long Time Coming" show a solid appreciation for R&B tunesmanship. Among the covers, Root Doctor shines with the old Johnnie Taylor hit "Last Two Dollars" and the Staple Singers favorite "Respect Yourself." The addition of horns on three tracks makes for an even more authentic Southern-soul-drenched experience.
Chicago Sun Times
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