The Boneshakers - Book Of Spells (1997)

Their union in the Boneshakers was fairly short-lived, but together guitarist/songwriter Randy Jacobs and vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson put together two powerful, rockin' funk and soul albums and entertained some lucky audiences who became Boneshakers themselves on dance floors across the U.S. Atkinson was born in Oberlin, OH. After working 14 years as a Chrysler assembly line worker, he left his job to pursue a music career, singing for such Detroit R&B groups as the Exquisites and Energy. While with Energy, he worked with Detroit producer Don Was (then unknown). He has also sung with industry heavyweights Elton John, Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, and Brian Wilson. Detroit native Randy Jacobs played his first guitar session at age 13. He later hooked up with Michael Henderson, co-writing the Top five R&B hit "Wide Receiver." Jacobs has been enlisted to help on projects by artists as diverse as Tina Turner, Snoop Doggy Dog, Bonnie Raitt, Coolio, Willie Nelson, Bruce Hornsby, Seal, and many others. Despite their success in session work, Atkinson and Jacobs both wanted to get their own band together and went into the home recording studio of Don Was in late 1994. Book of Spells was released in 1997; Shake the Planet followed two years later. Shortly afterwards, the duo went their separate ways. Atkinson suffered a mild stroke but recovered quickly. Ann Wickstrom

An All Music Guide Album Pick

1.Cold Sweat
2.Break Down the Walls
3.I Blew up the United States
4.Part Time Man
5.Living All of My Days for You
6.Welcome to My Life
7.Why Don't You Want Me?
8.Queenie's Groove
9.Let's Straighten It Out
10.The One You Run To
11.Don't Tear My Heart Apart
12.Long Way Down
13.Fudge Brownie

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The Boneshakers - Shake The Planet (1998)

The hot and heavy Boneshakers were (not were) with Was (Not Was) throughout the excellent '80s, whipping out records and touring extensively with just about everybody. The band expanded over two decades into a dozen directions, all bountiful, dipping in and out of radio rotation although remaining consistently on international tour. Boneshaker vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson (who out-silk-suits Morris Day in the stage fashion department) and jaw-dropping guitarist Randy Jacobs worked steadily with Brian Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Lyle Lovett, Iggy Pop, Ofra Haza, and Coolio, among scores of other A-list playfolk. Their 1999 release Shake the Planet is a hardwood floor-trembler, explosive with five times as much funk as rock, and ten times as much soul on top of it. A rare record that feels almost as good as a live show, the Shakers' stamp of diversity is all over it: "Ball and Chain" is a lowdown funky marvel, as is "Water in the Well" and "Hand Over Fist, Heart Over Mind," thanks in particular to the earth-funky contributions of bassist Michael Henderson. "Teach Me How to Stay" and "Compromise, Communicate" are soul-searching pleas by hip adult men looking for an enlightened attitude in the romance department, and "Pouring Gasoline on a Burning Man" is just straight-up tight and on-time work on the part of everyone. Hopefully this CD marks the recorded resurgence of a fine band who sounds even better on their own than beside the royal company they consistently keep. ~ Becky Byrkit, All Music Guide


 
1. Hand Over Fist, Heart Over Mind
2. Pouring Gasoline on a Burning Man
3. Ball and Chain
4. Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of the Stream)
5. Yesterday's Gone
6. Compromise, Communicate
7. Teach Me How to Stay
8. Livin'
9. Water in the Well
10. Hype
11. Rush
12. She's a Heartache

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