Veteran Toronto blues band Downchild celebrates its 40th anniversary and releases its 16th album with
I Need a Hat, as Mr. Downchild himself, guitarist Don Walsh, continues to lead an ensemble that also features singer
Chuck Jackson, saxophonist Pat Carey, keyboardist Michael Fonfara, bassist Gary Kendall, and drummer Mike Fitzpatrick. The all-original track list is also provided by Walsh (except for "Down in the Delta" and "Time to Say Goodbye," which are by
Jackson), and the styles range from the jump blues opener "This Must Be Love," to Chicago and Delta styles. Guests join the party, including Dan Aykroyd (for whom Downchild served as an inspiration when he created
the Blues Brothers), playing a harmonica solo on "You Don't Love Me"; trumpeter Wayne Jackson of
the Memphis Horns on "Somebody Lied" and "These Thoughts Keep Marching"; and guitarists
Colin James ("Somebody Lied") and
Colin Linden ("You Don't Love Me"). As a songwriter, Walsh has the blues about the usual subjects, including love gone wrong and financial reversals (due, in part, to credit company woes, according to "Somebody Lied"). He also speculates that he might have been more successful with a gimmick ("I Need a Hat") and worries that time is passing him by ("Some More of That," the only song on which he takes lead vocals). But he doesn't sound like he's really going to change his ways any time soon, and from the evidence of
I Need a Hat, he has no reason to; he and his band play the blues comfortably and confidently and, having marked this milestone, are likely to go on playing. ~ William Ruhlmann