Tell The Truth

Performer: Lee Roy Parnell
Artist: Keb' Mo'; Delbert McClinton; Bonnie Bramlett; Mississippi Mass Choir
Engineer: Charles Hart Jr.; Johnny Sandlin
Producer: Lee Roy Parnell; John Kunz
Distributor: Welk

Notes: Personnel includes: Lee Roy Parnell (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica); Keb Mo (vocals, National guitar, banjo, harmonica); Bonnie Bramlett, Delbet McClinton (vocals); James Pennebaker (acoustic & electric guitars); Jack Pearson (guitar, Hammond B-3 organ); Jim Horn, Steve Herman (horns); Kevin McKendree (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Mark Jordan (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Steve Mackey (acoustic & electric basses); Lynn Williams (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Vickie Hampton, Jay Boy Adams, The Mississippi Mass Choir (background vocals). Personnel: Lee Roy Parnell (vocals, electric guitar); James Pennebaker (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Jack Pearson (acoustic guitar); Jim Horn (horns); Kevin McKendree (Wurlitzer organ); Steve Mackey (electric bass); Lynn Williams (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Jay Boy Adams, Vicki Hampton (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Lee Roy Parnell; John Kunz. Recording information: Muscle Shoals Sound. Photographer: Ron Keith. Parnell's music is a very Texan mix of multiple popular music forms: bar-band rock, honky tonk country, boogie, blues, soul, and gospel. It's no surprise to find some similar-minded vets with high profiles, like Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Bramlett, and (as songwriting contributor) Dan Penn, among the supporting cast of this record. He's similar, yes, but not as outstanding -- as a songwriter, stylist, or singer -- as any of those figures are at their best. It's serviceable earthy Texas music that's suitable for bars and clubs at both party time on the stompers and closing time on the slow tunes, but kind of middle of the pack as far as it goes. When he trots out the high-energy blues-rock riffs, it wanders closest to clich�d ground. For that reason, the blue-eyed soul ballads, like "Breaking Down Slow" (one of the ones that Penn co-wrote and Bramlett sings on), are better, but there are better blue-eyed soul singers around, like Bramlett, to invite the comparison that it lays right on the table for you. ~ Richie Unterberger

CMJ (7/16/01, p.25) - "...Parnell's an impressive talent on this raw gem of an album..." No Depression (7-8/01, p.120) - "...An energizing tour of Southern roots music by an impressive artist who's finally found his home..."

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