For a bass player, Tony Stevens sure knows how to find guitarists. On Don't Blame Me … I Just Play Bass - the first solo album from the Foghat founder, originally released in 1998 and recently reissued by Angel Air Records - Stevens lets his former Midnight Flyer band mate Anthony Glynn lead the way with classic solos on songs like the memorable opener "Over and Over," the instrumental "Good Night the Sun" and the crisp, mid-paced rocker "No Time To Cry." But Stevens lets his funky bass do the talking on other originals like "Run to the River," "All I Want" and "Heavy Weather." (After all, Foghat and Stevens' first outfit, the Savoy Brown Blues Band, were boogie bands.)
But there's a reason Stevens didn't handle lead vocals in Savoy Brown and Foghat, and his mediocre vocals sound out of place amidst his upbeat retro rock. Slick production also gives Don't Blame Me … I Just Play Bass a dated vibe, even for 1998. There's not enough memorable material here to maintain the caliber of the album's strongest songs, with a paltry version of the Stones' "Under My Thumb" (which sounds like a bad remix) and the Steely Dan-wannabe "China" emerging as the album's low points. Nevertheless, this is a fun listen and one that proves Stevens to be a more diverse player than originally thought.
Track Listing:
1) Over and Over
2) Good Night the Sun
3) In My Eyes
4) Run to the River
5) Heavy Weather
6) All I Want
7) China
8) Under My Thumb
9) Um Um Um Um Um Um
10) Long Way to Go
11) Always Wanted Your Love
12) No Time to Cry
13) Sail On Sailor
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