Color Blind

Personnel: Dave Allen (vocals, guitar); Larry Williamson (piano); Tommy "Bone" Crone (drums).
Liner Note Author: Gary Redeker.
Recording information: International Artists Studio.
Everything about Dave Allen's sole album is slightly off, from the somewhat defensive title (Allen is a blues guitarist who happens to be white) to the naff cover photo and lame graphics, all the way down to the fact that Color Blind is a completely straightforward slice of Texas blues-rock that happens to be on International Artists, the label that was otherwise home to the freaky likes of the 13th Floor Elevators, the Red Krayola, and Endle St. Cloud. Color Blind may be many things -- and foremost, it's a surprisingly enjoyable slab of unpretentious Texas blues-rock, the sort of thing one might hear in a roadhouse in San Angelo on any given weekend -- but freaky it ain't. This has undoubtedly angered many psychedelic completists who finally tracked down this album in expectation of it sounding like God Bless the Red Krayola & All Who Sail With It and who summarily dismissed it as a result. Listened to with open ears, however, Color Blind is really quite good, gathering up the best parts of Texas-style blues-rock while staying clear of pitfalls like excessively flashy solos, endless and plodding jams, or misogynistic lyrics. Tunes like "Poor Soul" and "Baby Please Don't Try to Tell Me What to Do" are solid, rocking blues well worth seeking out by any fans of early Johnny Winter or the like. ~ Stewart Mason