It’s hardly surprising that Marc Broussard would tap ‘I’ve Got to Use My Imagination’, a cover of a Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland soul standard, as the new single from his just released studio album S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul.
Given his seminal roots in Louisiana and a distinctive southern sound mined from funk, blues, rock, and R & B —Broussard easily conveys a similar sensibility while giving his own unique spin on this classic track penned by the legendary Gerry Goffin and Barry Goldberg.
With Broussard lending a decisive and dynamic vocal, underscored by Eric Krasno on guitar and a searing solo by none other than Joe Bonamassa, it’s given a pronounced interpretation that takes its cue from Bland’s original, while, at the same time, delving deeper into the darker desires inherent in the song’s meaning and messaging.
“He (Bland) was the first blues singer that I really responded to,” Broussard reflected. “That howl that Bland did, that bark that he does in his songs, really got me. His recordings are all up in my heart. I just have to dig into them to try to do them my own way, but I still listen to his music to get true inspiration for what a singer can share.”
‘I’ve Got to Use My Imagination’ is the second single and one of twelve tracks from Broussard’s upcoming new album – You can stream the single here and check out the video to it right here at RAMzine.
Long hailed as a powerhouse vocalist and the king of Bayou soul, Marc Broussard has been altering his recipe of classic soul, R&B, & blues with the help of renowned blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul is a collection of blues and soul classics plus one original song produced by Joe Bonamassa, who contributes guitar solos on four tracks, alongside long-time collaborator Josh Smith. S.O.S 4: Blues For Your Soul is the latest entry in Broussard’s ongoing philanthropic album series available on 3rd March 3 through Bonamassa’s own Keeping the Blues Alive Records.
Previously, last month, he released ‘That’s What Love Will Make You Do’, a riveting take of the Little Milton classic, as the first single from the new album. Broussard’s dynamic, soulful vocals, combined with Bonamassa’s unmatched fretwork, deliver a knockout fusion of retro soul & modern blues.
“Tackling Little Milton was a daunting task,” Broussard admitted. “He had an epic voice that was intimidating to attempt. I only hope I did him justice. I didn’t want to overdo it, but we wanted to put our stamp where it needed to be. I’m so glad we did.”
‘That’s What Love Will Make You Do’ keenly exemplifies the roots music fireworks that the burning teamwork of Broussard-Bonamassa sought to create on S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul, each of the twelve tracks speaking to the deepest part of the soul, whether it’s Son House’s ‘Empire State Express’, Johnny Guitar Watson’s ‘Cuttin’ In’, Bobby Blue Bland’s ‘I’ve Got To Use My Imagination’ through to Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘I Asked for Water’ and the sole Broussard original, co-written with Josh Smith and Calvin Turner, ‘When Will I Let Her Go’. S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul provides a captivating showcase for Broussard’s muscular and passionate singing.
For Marc Broussard, this album is another soul-stirring adventure into the music he’s always admired. “Blues is something in my wheelhouse,” he said, “But it’s not really my field of expertise.” However, when he decided blues would make up a big part of the new addition to the S.O.S. series, he knew whom to ask for assistance: Joe Bonamassa. “I couldn’t think of a better person than him. I reached out directly to Joe, and he jumped at it. It was just that easy. It’s a real complementary relationship, that’s for sure,” he says. “We got into the studio, and it worked immediately.”
Produced by Bonamassa and Josh Smith, Marc Broussard has achieved something that has all the elements of a classic album, one that arrives with a knockout punch and will likely grow even more luminous over the years. With special guests like Bonamassa, Smith, Roddie Romero, Bobby Junior, JJ Grey, Eric Krasno, and old pal Calvin Turner, it is a real-life gathering of an esteemed musical tribe. Created with an idea for raising funds to help our country’s underprivileged youth, S.0.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul delivers great music for a great cause. Thanks to the generosity of Marc Broussard, a significant portion of proceeds from this Save Our Soul album will be donated to Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation for the purpose of supporting youth rehabilitation through music. This includes a partnership with Guitars Over Guns, a Miami-based non-profit organisation that offers students from the most vulnerable communities a powerful combination of music education and mentorship.
“The deep, mutual concern and compassion for providing healing and growth opportunities for young adults through music is what connects all of us in this endeavour. Thanks to Marc, many students in Miami-Dade County will receive mentorship, recording time, and resources that they likely wouldn’t have access to in another capacity. We are so excited to be a vessel for this initiative and we’re fortunate to have an opportunity to work with Broussard and Guitars Over Guns whose impact is already being noticed, rewarded, and replicated across the country.” Said Shawn Gonzalez, KTBA Foundation President.
“I’m really proud of all the S.O.S albums,” Broussard stated. “But this one, in particular, seems really fantastic because we have some extra strength with my pal Joe Bonamassa. His stepping in by producing, playing on the record plus releasing it on his label is truly a gift. And Joe completely understood the charitable aspect of the album.”
With help from so many talented friends, this is blues that arrives right on time and is guaranteed to take the soul on a new excursion. “This album seems like the culmination of a process that started when I went independent,” said Broussard. “It’s based on believing in myself and the music my fellow musicians, and I make. I couldn’t be more excited.”
S.O.S 4: Blues For Your Soul also spotlights Broussard’s long-running involvement in charitable endeavours. S.O.S. (Save Our Soul) is his ongoing series of benefit albums that support a different cause for each album. Broussard explained. “I started doing cover records after I was released from my very first contract with a major label. I finally went independent and decided to record albums to raise funds for charity. The first of those projects was to raise money for a homeless women’s and children’s shelter. Second, we did an album to raise funds for a children’s hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.”
With the new single and album, 2023 is primed to be an extraordinary year for Marc Broussard. He just kicked off a jammed packed run of tour dates in the USA, with more to be announced.
S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul features the tracks: ‘I’ve Got to Use My Imagination’ featuring Joe Bonamassa, ‘I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water’, ‘That’s What Love Will Make You Do’ featuring Bonamassa, ‘Cuttin’ In’ featuring Roddie Romero, ‘Dreamer’, ‘Empire State Express’, ‘Love, The Time Is Now’ featuring Bobby Junior, ‘I Asked for Water’ featuring JJ Grey, ‘I Like to Live the Love’ featuring Eric Krasno, ‘Locked Up in Jail (Prison Blues)’ featuring Josh Smith, ‘Driving Wheel’ and ‘When Will I Let Her Go’ both featuring Bonamassa.
Marc Broussard is an artist with a unique gift of channelling the spirits of classic R&B, rock, and soul into contemporary terms. The son of Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist Ted Broussard of The Boogie Kings, he nurtured his musical gifts at an early age in the vibrant Lafayette, Louisiana music scene. After releasing a highly successful independent EP at age 20, Broussard made his major-label debut with Carencro. The album featured the breakout hit ‘Home’ and catapulted him into the national spotlight. That album and the others that followed revealed Broussard as a southern soul singer with both a rarefied talent and an innate stylistic and emotional authenticity that have made him one of the most indelible artists of his generation. NPR cited, “His music radiates soulful Louisiana blues, but his songs blend those influences with raucous rock ‘n’ roll to create unique and infectious music.” Washington Times noted, “Few modern voices are as powerful as Marc Broussard’s soulful, Bayou-bred baritone.”
Broussard has released multiple albums with major labels over the last ten years before returning to his independent roots with several acclaimed original recordings and charitable cover albums via his S.O.S. Foundation (Save our Soul).
His philanthropic efforts extend well over a decade, beginning with his self-released album Bootleg To Benefit The Victims Of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and his efforts to organise the Momentary Setback Fund to provide financial assistance to those displaced by both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. In 2015, to further his commitment to tying music to a mission, he established the S.O.S. Foundation as a conduit to raise money for worthy causes, including the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, the City of Refuge in Atlanta, and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s hospital in Baton Rouge, LA.
S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul is a follow-up to 2019’s A Lullaby Collection SOS III, a series of standards geared towards a younger audience with the accompanying book, I Love You For You, marking Broussard’s debut as an author.
TV performances include The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS Saturday Morning, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival/AXS-TV, and many more. In 2019, his performance on the PBS TV Series The Kate received an Emmy nomination. Broussard’s songs have been placed in numerous films and US T.V. shows. Additionally, he has been a featured performer on numerous recordings, including the Grammy-nominated I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country.
You can order new album S.0.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul here.
New single ‘What Love Will Make You Do’ is available here and you can check out the video her at RAMzine.
