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The Anderson Brothers, Stefan and Joe, were
Shreveport, Louisiana natives. Stefan
Anderson was an amazingly gifted singer (a
stronger, bigger-voiced Joe Cocker). Younger
brother Joe had a huskier, lighter voice
that was otherwise very similar to Stefan’s.
Both brothers were accomplished songwriters
as well.
The Andersons migrated to Jackson,
Mississippi in 1968, where they remained
fixtures on the music scene for many years.
Stefan released a few singles on Capitol and
Stax, but the brothers never recorded
together until 1977 when London-based
producers Tim Whitsett and Chick Churchill,
joined by Whitsett’s brother Carson, cut
their first album ‘Lock ‘Em Away’ at Malaco
Studios in Jackson (released by British
label DJM in 1978). The follow-up, ‘Baby I
Love You’ was recorded in 1978. Like the
first album, The Andersons are backed by the
crack Malaco rhythm section, whose credits
include "Mr. Big Stuff" (Jean Knight),
“Groove Me" (King Floyd), ‘”Rhymin’ Simon”
(Paul Simon), “Ring My Bell” (Anita Ward),
and "Misty Blue" (Dorothy Moore). Backing
vocals were provided by Rhodes, Chalmers,
Rhodes (Al Green,
The Bee Gees).
The album contains numerous potential
singles in a gumbo style of pop, rock &
roll, R&B, and honky-tonk-country. There are
traces of Bob Seger, Joe Coker, Bruce
Hornsby, Boz Scaggs, and Steely Dan here.
Stefan’s stellar vocal performances on
BABY I LOVE YOU and the ballads
ANOTHER DAY and IT'S LOVE are as
compelling as they are timeless. And Joe
really shines on midtempos CAN'T TELL THE
TRUTH and CAPTURE ME and the
self-penned rocker WITH THESE HANDS |
