Mississippi MacDonald Announces the Release of His Brand-New Album ‘Do Right, Say Right’ and Premieres First Single video ‘I was Wrong’
“You know,” says London-based, soul-bluesman Mississippi MacDonald, “Blues is often misunderstood. It’s not sad music – there’s great humour, great joy and there’s celebration. When the chips are down and it looks like you can’t go on, there’s always something – there’s always a little light shining through. There’s no heartbreak or bad luck that a horn section, a Hammond Organ and a few Albert King licks can’t cure. And that’s what this record is all about.”
It’s an aspect of the Blues that you’ll find shining bright in Mississippi’s brand-new album, ‘Do Right, Say Right’, due to drop on 19th November, 2021. “Resilience,” says the man himself, “This record is about resilience.”
‘I was Wrong’ — the first single from the album is out now. It starts with a classic Blues hook, beguiling organ and sweet shiny horns, plus strong percussion, then brings in Mississippi’s impassioned, soulful vocals. There’s plenty of expressive lead guitar too. This is classic Blues, brought up to date in fresh material — as per Mississippi MacDonald’s mission statement and creed.
“It’s modern; it’s not musical archaeology,” says the man of his music, “It’s authentic and celebrates a rich, fantastic tradition. It’s soul-blues, and you’ve got to put your best into it.”
Mississippi MacDonald is a 3-times British Blues Awards nominee, from London, England. He has been playing since he was 11 years old and has traveled extensively on the US Blues trail, meeting (amongst others) Pinetop Perkins, Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith, Otis Clay and even the King of the Blues himself: B.B. King. In 2010, Mississippi MacDonald was also part of the team that purchased a gravestone for the late Hi Records recording artist and soul legend, O.V. Wright.
“We went to the US for the dedication ceremony,” recalls Mississippi, “I met Otis Clay, OV’s family, and all of the Hi Rhythm musicians. I felt like I was giving something back to the musical heritage.”
‘Do Right, Say Right’ is Mississippi’s seventh album, continuing the line from ‘Devil’s Chain’ (2014, with The Cottonmouth Kings); ‘American Accent’ (2015, with The Cottonmouth Kings); ‘Dress For The Money’ (2016, with The Cottonmouth Kings); ‘With The Soul Fixers’ (2017, with Steve Bailey and The Soul Fixers); ‘Shake ‘Em On Down’ (2018, with Steve Bailey); and ‘This Is How It Is’ (2020).
‘Dress for the Money’ and ‘American Accent’ reached Number 1 and Number 3 respectively in the UK IBBA Blues Charts. What’s more, ‘American Accent’ was one of the Top 10 IBBA albums of 2016, and was the Saint FM’s The Blues Is Back show’s Album of the Year, 2017.
‘Mississippi MacDonald and Steve Bailey: With The Soul Fixers’ was released in September 2017, named as one of the IBBA Top 12 Picks of 2017 and chosen as The Blues Is Back’s Record of the Year. The album earned significant international airplay, including on BBC Radio 2’s The Paul Jones Show, where Paul described it as “Splendid…. a really, really excellent album.”
Reviewing 2020’s ‘This Is How It Is’, Blues In Britain said “…Mississippi MacDonald gives us an all-original tribute to the music created at Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios in Memphis, where Hi Records held court… gospel-tinged music that could have been sung by Al Green or even Otis Redding back in the day.
With ‘Do Right, Say Right’, Mississippi forges further ahead on his musical journey. Fans of classic Blues and soul and original talent will find fresh, rich pickings in the tracks. Check out ‘I was Wrong’ as a single and taster, and watch for the album’s release on 19th November!
I Was Wrong is now available on all digital platforms.
