Reviews  "Al Basile has a genuinely raw and soulful singing voice...Basile’s voice is personal and pleasurable, and his songs and style are a perfect match for Robilllard’s six-string prowess" Brian D. Holland Modern Guitars Magazine December 07, 2006 "This relaxed, tremendously likeable set of songs boasts a nearly perfect combination of tunes, players, and direction" Hal Horowitz Blues Revue Oct/Nov 2006 "Highly personalized songwriting and upfront  vocals."  Jim DeKoster Living Blues, Issue #185 "This relaxed, tremendously likeable set of songs boasts a nearly perfect combination of tunes, players and direction ... Basile and Robillard find a sweet spot and work a casual midtempo style that's the very definition of soul-blues ... 'Groovin' in the Mood Room' is the perfect title for an album where nothing is forced and the groove and mood come naturally... Basile's lyrics are sharp, and he never overthinks a song...Basile really shines on ballads...like great old '60s Muscle Shoals sides rescued from the vaults." Hal Horowitz, Blues Revue Oct/ Nov Issue   "Al Basile has attained a perfection that others hardly dare dream of...The formidable singer stands in the foreground with the no less excellent songwriter...Every note is considered but in no way contrived...The music flows with a rare naturalness." Dietmar Hoscher "Concerto" (Vienna, Austria) "A deliciously masterful excursion through American roots idioms." The Philadelphia Inquirer "He has the credentials that make this music one of our national treasures." Bill Bentley Studio City Sun "One of the most literate blues records ever released." Eric Shoaf Vintage Guitar August 2006 "Like Robillard, Basile stays true to the blues while finding novel approaches to keep the music vibrant." Joseph Taylor Soundstage.com August 2006 "Yet another winner from Al Basile." Mick Rainsford Blues in Britain " ... seldom has [the blues] it been done with such sharp self realization." Mark Smith BluesSource.com "It's the kind of music that you freak over when you get the chance to discover it for yourself." MidwestRecordRecap.com

1 I Got To Be the Boss 2 How Much Better (Better Can Get) 3 She's on the Mainline 4 Picked to Click 5 Your Turn to Pay 6 Baby Sister 7 I'm in a Mood 8 The Show Must Go On 9 Your Rights 10 Take My Word for It 11 Be a Woman 12 Coffee and Cadillacs 13 You Satisfy Personnel: Al Basile vocals, cornet on "She's on the Mainline" Duke Robillard guitars, piano solo on "Your Rights" backup vocal on "You Satisfy" Marty Ballou electric basses Mark Teixeira drums, tambourine Bruce Bears organ on "Baby Sister" and "Be a Woman" Doug James tenor sax on "She's on the Mainline"

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I Got To Be the Boss
     

When I'm spending and the money's going fast
and you wonder how I'm gonna make it last
might not know myself how I'll pay the cost
but when it gets down to business - I got to be the boss 

When I'm gambling and trying my luck
just dont tell me that I'm down to my last buck
if I take a chance, I might take a loss
but when it gets down to business - I got to be the boss

Now I might make a mistake
I might end up without a dime
but that mistake is mine to make
cause its my life, my money, and my time

Now I pick my friends - I pick my women too
if I feel like a party, that's what I'm gonna do
I might burn that bridge yeah, before I get across
but when it gets down to business - I got to be the boss

 
 
 
How Much Better (Better Can Get)


Nine below zero in the land of Nod
put out of Eden by the hand of God
life got hard and I don't know yet
how much better better can get

By the sweat of my brow I make my bread
go through pain and sickness before I'm dead
things do get better but I don't know yet
how much better better can get

Can't remember Eden, it was just a dream
the way things are is not the way they seem
I don't know much, and I wonder yet
how much better - better can get

It's my own fault, I know that it's true
I keep doing the things that I used to do
now I could change, but I don't know yet
how much better better can get

I'm just a stranger in an unknown land
feel like my fate is out of my hands
most I can do is to make a bet
on how much better better can get

Shes on the Mainline

She moves - and I stand still
she speaks - I have no will
she knows - she can do as she please
just one touch and I'm weak in the knees

She's got the power
she's on the mainline
if I could have her love
Lord, I wont mind dying

Her eyes - are where I get lost
she sells - I never count the cost
her style - is gentle but bold
just one word and my lifes on hold

She's got the power
shes on the mainline
if I could have her love
Lord, I wont mind dying

She doesn't have to run somebody else's game
she can have her cake and eat it just the same

Her cheek - is soft as a dove
her kiss - is what I need more of
her shape - was really made for play
just take a look as shes walking my way

And now we've got the power
we're on the mainline
now I have her love
Lord, and I dont mind dying

Picked to Click

I don't need no mojo
I got a spell all of my own
I don't rub no conquer root
I got a spell all of my own
it make the young girls dream
and married women want to leave their home

I don't sprinkle hot foot powder
and I don't use no goofy dust
I don't sprinkle hot foot powder
and I don't use no goofy dust
but if what I got's right for you baby
when I say you may, you know you must

It don't work on everybody
and it might not work on you
it don't work on everybody
and it might not work on you
but if were picked to click now baby
there ain't nothing you can do.

Your Turn to Pay

Did you think
it would be easy
just to forget
you really care?

And did you know
you'd stay awake nights
seeing her face
when she isn't there?

Everything's changed
since you let her go
and it doesn't matter
what you used to know
everything's different
since you sent her away
and now - now you must pay

When you took
all that she gave you
did you mean
to give something too?

And when she said
how much she loved you
did you speak
one word that was true?

Now you're alone
with all that you've learned
the love that you took
you can never return
now you have nothing
since you sent her away
ohhh, and now - now you must pay

Baby Sister

Baby sister - much too green
but she's the finest I have ever seen
much too green - that's no lie
so baby sister better walk on by

Baby sister - much too bold
to ever do what she been told
much too bold - just too brave

way too sure she's gonna get her way

Guys like to stand around her close
just to see her breathe
and guys like to linger when she goes
just to watch her leave

Baby sister - just too sure
she's gonna get what she came here for
way too sure - that's no lie
so baby sister's got to say goodbye
(bye bye baby...)

I'm in a Mood

I'm in a mood - my left eye's seeing double
I'm tasting blood, I cant stop starting trouble
I'm just twitching here on the brink
and I can't take time to think
I'm in a mood - get out of my way

I'm in a mood - don't make a sound
time stands still but the numbers keep counting down
my head is spinning round the room
and something's gonna happen soon
I'm in a mood - get out of my way

'm in a mood - don't come sneaking round
I can see in the dark, I can hear things underground
there's no telling what I might do
so if you know what's good for you
I'm in a mood - get out of my way

The Show Must Go On

You never say you're sorry
you don't admit to what you done
when it comes to telling the whole truth
you make sure that you leave in some

now the show must go on
well your show it must go on
one of these days when they find you out
they're gonna run your raggedy show on out of town, on out of town

You never give a straight answer
you just say what you want to say
'cause pulling the wool over everyones' eyes
got you where you are today

well the show must go on
well your show it must go on
one of these days when they find you out
they're gonna run your raggedy ass on out of town, on out of town

when it comes to foolin' people
you can fool some all of the time
and you can fool all of us for a while
but there's a payback down the line

now the show must go on
well your show it must go on
but one of these days when they find you out
they're gonna run your raggedy show on out of town, on out of town

Your Rights

You have the right to remain silent
she don't wanna hear I love you no more
you have the right to pick up the pieces
of the heart she threw on the floor

You have the right to life and liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
that means that you're free to look for love
if you don't find it, that's life I guess

You have the right to make one phone call
so you better make it tell
here's a quarter, go call your mother
tell her they're holding her boy in hell

You have the right to life and liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
that means that you're free to look for love
if you don't find it, that's life I guess

You have the right to a speedy trial
so they can tell you in a hurry you lose
and a jury of your peers
will understand you when you're singing the blues

You have the right to life and liberty
and the pursuit of happiness
that means that you're free to look for love
if you don't find it, that's life I guess

Take My Word for It

I don't care what they're saying about me
you know people just love to talk
but if you want to believe somebody other than me
I'd rather pack my things and walk

Take my word, take my word for it baby
don't take the word of those others you've heard, uh uh, uh uh

Now we're going through life together
we got to make it day by day
some of those guys are telling you lies
to make you throw a good thing away

Take my word, take my word for it baby
don't take the word of those others you've heard, uh uh, uh uh

I used to run around, I used to raise some hell
while I had my fun
But my life has changed since I met you baby
you're the only one

You can believe that I'll always love you
cross my heart and hope to die
just be my wife, and for the rest of your life
Im gonna stay right by your side

Take my word, take my word for it baby
don't take the word of those others you've heard, uh uh, uh uh (3X)

Be a Woman

The game was fun
but now it's done
so if you lost or won
be a woman

I played my part
gave all my heart
be generous, be smart
be a woman

it's all I really need
it's what you were born to be
do it for you, do it for me
be a woman

This solo song
won't last for long
be gentle now, be strong
be a woman

only you can save
this love I gave
be beautiful, be brave
be a woman

darling, can't you see
all we were meant to be
do it for you, do it for me
be a woman

You've seen my best
now take the rest
your turn to pass the test
be a woman

You're a wonder of the world
in case you haven't heard
but I can't use a little girl
be a woman

now the man you see
has got to be set free
do it for you, do it for me
be a woman

Coffee and Cadillacs

It was a fifty dollar job in a roadside club
I saw him through the window when he pulled up
in a '57 Cadillac El Dorado Biarritz
I could see him from the stage when he walked in
I counted off a tune and he began to grin
he made the kind of first impression that was hard to miss

There were diamonds in his cufflinks
and gold buckles on his shoes
on the break he said Say,
I like the way you play
and there's money to be made in the blues.

I'll put your picture in all the papers
your records on the jukebox too
so think about the gig
you know my plans are big
and I can make em all come true.

Coffee and Cadillacs, my future sure looked bright
I couldn't help thinking about how fast my luck had changed that night
He said Jump in that El Dorado, and let me buy you a cup
get behind the wheel, its glass, chrome and steel
and we got serious things to discuss

Feel that baby running smooth
they call it hydramatic drive
just down the road
they had superior joe
and it felt good just to be alive

A lot of pages in the contract
but I thought about where I'd been
He said, here, you can sign
right above that line
then sit back and let the money roll in.

Coffee and Cadillacs, my future sure looked bright
now I'm sittin in another greasy spoon and it's the middle of the night
He just drove by in that El Dorado, with somebody that he picked up
As for me, I hope the refill's free
'cause I can't afford another cup.
As for me, I hope the refills free -
'cause I can't afford another cup.

You Satisfy

Now it's great to have a good friend
to stand right by your side
but I'd turn my back on my good friend
if it would keep you from saying goodbye

'Cause oo, oo, oo - you satisfy
oo, oo, oo - you satisfy
turn my back on my friend, I'd never see him again
because you satisfy

Money in the pocket
it can sure make the minutes fly
but what good is gold when you're alone and old
what you give money just can't buy

'Cause oo, oo, oo - you satisfy
oo, oo, oo - you satisfy
you're more precious than gold, I got wealth untold
because you satisfy

Women come and women go
I'd go along and just enjoy the ride
Now I've put em all down, dont even want 'em around
because you satisfy

oo, oo, oo - you satisfy
oo, oo, oo - you satisfy

God knows I wouldn't tell a lie
you satisfy

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