A wonderful seven track disc from one of the USA‘s sadly lesser-known acoustic guitar pickers and singer/songwriters. McCarthy has sure paid his dues as a pro-musician for many decades, gigging and working with countless major figures including Jorma Kaukonen, Pentangle, Tom Paxton, Roy Book Binder and many more.
Trouble In Mind‘ is a release featuring his strong fretwork and vocals with some top-notch Harp-work from James Montgomery on the opening four tracks which all originally figured on McCarthy‘s superb blues release of a few years ago, ‚Satisfied Mind‘ – one of my own personal favourite albums and one I never tire of. The remaining three tracks are instrumentals from his later equally excellent album ‚Star Of The Sea‘.
The title track gives way to Fred McDowell‘s ‚You Gotta Move‘, slips into WC Handy‘s old ‚Atlanta Blues‘ before a delicious take on ‚Sittin‘ On Top Of The World‘ moves the disc onto McCarthy‘s three instrumentals, all self-written, and echoing slide-work with pace and some light jazzy chording at times. This is an album of positively top-quality acoustic blues from a sure-fired and sure-footed master. Highly recommended without doubt. (Wandra Music)
