BLUES-ROCK 

The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue, "Command Performance" (Delta Groove)

Back in the golden era of rock 'n' roll, pioneering R&B stars would travel in packs, with some sharp bandleader like Ike Turner or Johnny Otis fronting the operation. Tommy Castro must have had them in mind when he formed the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue. 

San Francisco-based vocalist-guitarist Castro fronts this configuration, backed by his touring band, with Chicago guitar firebrand Ronnie Baker Brooks, harmonica player Magic Dick of J. Geils Band fame and keyboardist-vocalist Deanna Bogart. Several ringers take a song or two on this debut disc, including Curtis Salgado (on the most excellent reading of Jimmy Rogers' "If It Ain't Me") and Marcia Ball ("Sea Cruise"). 

The core band members contribute a couple of signature songs apiece (notably Magic Dick's raucous "Whammer Jammer" and Brooks' ballad "See You Hurt No More"). Castro's performance veers a little too close to Huey Lewis for these ears, though, and the group sounds a little soft in the midsection.