10/11/2025
DAVE WELD's NEW Delmark vinyl gets GREAT review from the Netherlands. Thank you Gerard Haarhuis!
The Delmark label often releases work by artists whose music I would describe as pure — no unnecessary frills, just what really matters — and that is almost always the blues, in all its many shades.
That certainly applies to the newest album by Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames. After their first album Burnin’ Love in 2010 came Slip Into a Dream five years later in 2015, followed by Nightwalk in 2022. Yes, the patience of fans is tested now and then. And now there’s Bluesin’ Through the Years, an album that is actually a selection of songs from their first three albums. And no, I wouldn’t call this a lack of inspiration, nor creative poverty. No — this album is more of a “Best Of”!
Alongside Dave Weld and Monica Myhre (whose real name is Mona Rose — why she didn’t keep that name artistically is a mystery to me; there’s nothing wrong with it…), a fine roster of musicians appear — that’s the Imperial Flames, more on them later. I can’t wait to dive into the nine tracks on this album, which, apart from being available digitally, also comes on red vinyl, in a limited “flame vinyl” edition.
We get the best advice straight from Dave, right in the first track on Side A: “Don’t Ever Change Your Ways,” a fast slide number. If, like me, you spin this record fairly early in the morning, you’ll be wide awake instantly. The song ends in a harmony of Never Change Your Ways. Next up is “Don’t Tell Mama”, featuring Monica Myhre on vocals — a voice that easily holds its own amid the delightful musical fireworks! Again, there’s Dave Weld’s lightning-fast playing, always keeping the melody intact. Strong! And the driving organ—just wonderful.
“Red Hot Tobasco” is comparatively a calmer tune, with the focus on storytelling, featuring slide guitar followed by honky-tonk piano licks, and then Dave’s slide takes over again. These first three songs all go back to Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames’ previous album, Nightwalk.
The last two songs on Side A come from their second album, Slip Into a Dream. The first of the two, “Looking for a Man,” naturally features Monica Myhre on vocals, singing quite desperately about searching for a “man.” Ah, child, it’ll be alright… The final track on Side A, “May Be Right, May Be Wrong,” confronts us with a title that’s basically stating the obvious, but in the case of Dave and his crew, I can assure him—he’s definitely right! Especially in the duet with Monica. Man, what wonderful music!
Alright, flip that fiery red disc over to Side B —
Side B contains four songs: numbers 1 and 4 from Burnin’ Love, and numbers 2 and 3 again from Slip Into a Dream. It opens with the long, beautiful “Ramblin’,” a laid-back blues. Gorgeous harmonies, a fine sax solo, and then Dave takes it back with a guitar part. Anyone who’s read my other reviews for Bluestown Music knows I have a strong preference for longer tracks — they allow the song to unfold beautifully, often giving room for multiple solos — so yes, this is my favorite song on the album. Top class. A wonderful track! Its conclusion says it all: Ramblin’ till when I’m dead and gone!
Next comes “Louise,” where Monica warns Louise about her behavior — after all, she is a married woman… Shame, shame! Not just any sax here either — a baritone sax howls away to underscore the seriousness of the situation! The next track is the title song from the 2015 album, “Slip Into a Dream.” An old-fashioned stomping blues, fairly slow, with a familiar blues theme: it’s raining cats and dogs and other such gloomy things. So what do you do? The shared answer: Slip into a dream (after loving you). The fact that there’s still energy left for such perfect slide work after such activity is remarkable, to say the least…
A word to the wise in “She’s Lyin’,” the last song on the album — uptempo, and it reminds me a bit of “our” Kraayeveld from the gray 1970s. Supported by a fine sax rhythm, it becomes clear that She’s Lyin’, followed by a sax solo, a melodic guitar solo, and always impeccable drumming beneath it all. Apparently everyone already knew she was lying, because in chorus they all sing She’s Lyin’!
Boys (and girls), what a solid chunk of music this is. The whole record is one big celebration. Of course, part of the joy comes from recognizing songs from earlier albums. Fans already have those records, but a “Best Of” is always welcome. New fans will get a perfect first impression of what Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames are capable of — and that’s far more than just another record full of songs.
The covers of Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames albums stand out for their vivid, cheerful use of color — a “flaming” design, you could say. On this one, the back cover especially stands out: many black-and-white photos and truly all the information about the tracks and the musicians playing on them. Compliments!
https://bluestownmusic.nl/review-dave-weld-the-imperial-flames-bluesin-through-the-years/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNXQFlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmCUEWMulofoIp_p-2EJtrgMoXhWWdnxFNecTtxN8bBaMUNvvIEyZSGjA8V7_aem_DM-d07-_Q_NZEoKkWwWKTw
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