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The Anderson Brothers, Stefan and Joe, were
Shreveport, Louisiana natives. Stefan
Anderson was an amazingly gifted singer.
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. That’s 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 using
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 included Malaco bass player
Don Barrett and two Soul legends, Frederick
Knight and Tommy Tate.
Released by British label DJM in 1978, 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 Cocker, Bruce Hornsby, Boz Scaggs,
and Steely Dan here. Stefan’s stellar vocal
performances on the ballads BEAUTIFUL
LOVE SONG, LET HER DREAM, and
LET'S GO TO MY PLACE are as compelling
as they are timeless. And Joe really shines
on the midtempo rockers FINISH WHAT WE
STARTED, LOCK 'EM AWAY, and
MAN IN LOVE |
