Peter Wolf - Sleepless
2002 / 41:00 Minutes / 12 Tracks / Studio/ CD
Release Date: September 10, 2002 - Artemis Records
Produced by: Peter Wolf & Rob Eaton
Website: www.peterwolf.com

Reviewed by Matt Rowe on October 16, 2002

There are just a handful of Rock luminaries from the good ole past that still make albums just like it was yesterday, figuratively speaking. One of those great personalities, with a big bluesy voice to match is Peter Wolf, ex of the great J Geils Band. Peter never stopped making music, having created solo works for 20 years in the timecount of 6 albums. Everyone of those albums were diamonds, the after effects of a blues/rock singer who no longer works with steady mates but rather, a roving collection of the world's best.

This disc delivers 12 tracks of red hot tunes that sear your rock n roll fevered brain. And all this with the helping hands of a few of Rock's favourite sons. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Steve Earle, and Magic Dick (J Geils Band) all slip into the sessions at one time or another to help Peter create one of the year's most vibrant collection of expressive tunes, some authored by Wolf and various collaborators and some written by blues greats.

To hear the gravel filled blues buster, "Growin' Pain" is to walk into the front door of Heaven with its 'oh so cool' renderings. The rain of gold dusted songs continue with the Stones -like "Nothing But The Wheel" (Jagger lent vocal cords) , and weaving in and out with the Otis Rush penned "Homework", the rockin' Sonny Boy Williamson's "Too Close Together", which brings to mind early J Geils greatness; and an Isaac Hayes, Booker T Jones, and David Porter song that blends in with the aura of the Stones (once again), "Never LikeThis Before". The heavily shared tunesmithing with Will Jennings sews up the rest of the album with swooning rock moments.

This album absolutely rocks in all the shining bluesy glory that is Peter Wolf's halo. His love of every great voice is the blood of this disc. The music contained inside this body of work is nothing short of brilliant sequencing of the best that Peter has to offer in this space of time. The works that are the previous 5 discs pour the foundation of this blues gem and will be, in turn, the springboard into classic status, which this disc almost has.

DISC

This disc and its sound space is a beautiful thing to hear. The production strength of this disc is clean. This is a qualitatively extraordinary production that renders the heart and soul of Peter Wolf and his meanderings down the paths of every blues corner and rock alley, climbing every fused hill of style that built the disc that this is.

PACKAGING

This is how it should be done. A 12 page booklet jammed full of credits, lyrics, notes, and listings with a few photos. The liner section provides the reminiscings of Peter as he recounts every memory of each song, what brought them about, how the recordings went, etc. The lyrics are all here, credits to every song. You are never left in the dark on anything off this fantastic disc.

THE FINAL SAY

I cannot recommend a better expenditure from your rock budget this year than Peter Wolf's "Sleepless". It also bears to mention that his 5 previous efforts are not to be missed. Together they form a journey of a great voice that, thankfully, joins the space traveling waves along side of the collection of greats mentioned in Peter's notes. Peter Wolf is also on that 'sleepless journey'.

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