Review of Jericho

The following review was written by Paul Gentry, staff at CMCA it is posted here with his permission.

Nashville Fats is a rarity in today's Christian music scene with no compromise lyrics, and prolific with a difficult music forum, the blues! Jericho is his third cassette in three years. After you listen to Jericho, you will truly know that blues is music from the heart.
 
Read the Book - Jesus Don't Play instantly shows you just how outfront Nashville is as a songwriter. Most of the instrumentation (all played by Nashville) on Jericho is what you'd expect: an acoustic guitar, harmonica and his lead vocals. Fortunately he is very good in all aspects. The lyrics.... "If you're a songwriter searching for a hook, you only find it in the Book" are priceless as he bravely points out that other world religions are false (Amen!). He continues along the same vein lyrically by going straight into the Jesus Don't Play cap.
 
You almost think you are at a live concert as he speaks between tracks. His expressive voice really hits home on Happy As a Man Can Be. I have reviewed all three Nashville Fats cassettes and my biggest gripe is that he has not replicated any CDs yet, yet he is able to crank out this great music at a record pace, so cassettes are fine. But sometimes it would be nice to be able to hit the repeat button because before you know it he breaks into American Hero - Ballad of Judge Roy Moore (Side A, Song 3). This track is really special as it has a unique chord progression, yet it's still clearly the blues. The lyrics are phenomenal as he sings of how our educational systems have been slipping since we took prayers and God out of our schools back in 1964. Nashville proudly tells us the story of Judge Roy Moore in his victory against the ACLU to keep the Ten Commandments on the Court House walls. You gotta love it! We have so few real Americans like Nashville left in this country.
 
He is a Friend of Mine is simply beautiful and speaks of how our Savior died on the cross for us. Peter Thorpes' musicianship really shines on this track and the bass guitar certainly gives this song depth. The production is exactly where it should be on a blues album. It's tasteful and the digital transfer comes across quite clear considering it is on tape. Another argument for a CD (hint, hint) is Side One has to be forwarded so you can start Side 2, normally a big no, no as Side 2 should normally be shorter for convenience sake. Yet I'm sure there is a reason behind this as most artists want certain songs blocked together for lyrical meaning or continuity's sake.
 
Side B, Song One starts off with Grace, a jamming track. The well-played lead guitar parts and piano give the album some variety and are very well done. Nashville can get away with as little production as he wishes as blues listeners only want to delve into the meaning behind his songs. A guitar and live mike for his vocals are good enough for most! What would Jesus do? reminds me of the song American Pie (A good thing because if you can write a good pop-ish melody, you will have a song most people will want to listen to and play again.) Nashville actually introduces the song To Be With You Jesus, a song you will really enjoy as it is unique and again melody-strong which seems to me is difficult to pull off in a blues forum. J-E-S-U-S continues the Jesus fest. You have to admire a man who can sit down and share so openly about our Lord and Savior. We need to hear His name above all others and I wish more songwriters would use His name as often as Nashville does.
 
I'd explain the lyrics on the GREAT song Marie Laveau, but I want you to hear it for yourself as it is too special to relay properly! All I can say is Nashville is a "must see" concert , folks, as you will walk away with a focus on our Savior and probably dazed and amazed :) The final track starts out with wind sound effects and Nashville reading scripture from Joshua, Chapter 6 explaining the story of Jericho. Again, few could get away with this as most listeners want musical projects with no interuptions, but this is literally a live Nashville show and if you've already listened this far you'll relish each spoken word. Lyrically he ends with, "and the walls came tumblin down"...Amen. Words from the past giving us advice for the future!
 
All I can say in closing is Nashville keeps getting better and better! Everyone who listens to this man's music or perhaps comes across this review should write him and encourage him to put out a CD release of his greatest hits or fork out the $ to get a CD-R from him cause this music is truly wonderful! At the very least you will come away from Jericho wanting the new millenium to get here quickly so you can hear what Nashville has in store for us with his next project, cause there are two more cassettes waiting just around the corner.

Review of No More Blue Nights

The following review was written by Paul Gentry, staff at CMCA it is posted here with his permission.

Nashville Fats (Peter Thorpe) sings the blues. He is a rarity in today's CCM world. His music has feeling, the light of Christ in every ounce of this musician's soul from beginning to end. Nashville Fats gets into his music for our Savior and we listeners can't help but be caught up in his excitement. This second cassette shows progression and a continued honing of his immense songwriting skills.
 
Imagine yourself in a dark Christian coffee house with a man on a wooden stool with a guitar and harmonica hanging around his neck, a microphone in front of his face and a Bible within reach. It's all Nashville needs to witness through his well written blues music. This studio project has a live feeling to it. Now shut your eyes and listen.
 
Nashville starts his project off with Amazing Grace and all one can think is, gosh it's good to hear a traditional hymn with such feeling employed. Even the acoustic guitar cries feeling with each and every twang.
 
Coming Up To Heaven is the first Fats-penned song (he wrote all these tracks) and gets the listener into a bluesy mood and is a pleasant stepping stone to the great tune 666. I hear some Doobie Brothers influence here, but obviously the message is a an eye opening Revelation (like the Book) lyrically. Deuteronomy continues along the same vein. The title track No More Blue Nights could be the best cut on the album. The harmonica and tasty electric guitar throughout this well sung song make it a very strong radio candidate. Great number! If I were at his concert, I'd be screaming, "Play it again, Fats!"
 
Stolen Bible is a clever song that will put a smile on your face. Each song Nashville sings tells a story; it's a tradition passed on from the 20's. It's nice to see a musical style endure decades and to be used in the Lord's honor. Thank You Lord definitely fits the days of old blues. His vocal invokes such joy that you will find yourself thanking Jesus right along with Fats throughout the entire song. The guitar solo has such feeling you'll think he is still singing, that's how caught up you'll get in this wonderful track.
 
The second side of the cassette starts off with Momma Don't Take My Life which has very good guitar work and continues to keep you listening with great interest. The blues fascinate most of us and you won't want to turn off your cassette deck during No More Blue Nights, trust me :). Jesus It's Only You has a quiet mood to it. "After all is said and done, You're the only one, Jesus It's Only You" is the message here. Straightforward and very personal. A nice touch that is well placed on this cassette.
 
Temporal World lulls you into a mood and stops!! Too short, but a nice song :). I'm sure it was on purpose as Let Me Tell You People continues the blues barrage and you forget that there are separate songs with different lyrical meanings. Fats witnesses very directly with his music and that is a wonderful thing. Most artists will perform a song, then witness thereafter in between songs. "Bye, bye, y'all, bye, bye" ends the song, very cool and personal. Caught Up is instrumental and shows that Nashville is a very accomplished musician. You can forget there is instrumentation on this project because you find yourself listening to Nashville's voice. Oh Yahweh, a definite praise song completes No More Blue Nights and leaves you feeling like you've spent your hour well. You can open up your eyes now listeners :)
 
Nashville Fats' music gets down to the basics. He shows us we can put out a good quality product with soul and be able to minister without a huge investment in the recording studio. Don't let Nashville Fats' picture on the cover intimidate you, he's a large guy. But you can guarantee he has an equally big heart for Jesus and our community in Christ. Musicians with personality can sway opinions and beliefs and Fats' music will minister to the unbeliever and believer alike. Cassettes are rather inexpensive for the buyer and I consider this tape a bargain!!

Review of Introducing Jesus Blues

The following review was written by Paul Gentry, staff at CMCA it is posted here with his permission.

Nashville Fats is a gifted blues guitar player, singer and songwriter. He acknowledges the influences of famous blues musicians Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, but with blues it doesn't really seem to matter. Every song may sound like the next somewhat, but the bottom line is telling a story in a blues fashion and relating it with our Lord and Savior is an accomplishment in this forum! Strong personalities like Nashville Fats can be very beneficial to witnessing and this is what I hear and feel throughout this wonderful cassette. Peter Thorpe (Nashville Fats' real name) has nearly all of the writing credits and arrangements on this project. The production on this cassette was perfect and accomplished by Peter Thorpe and Dale Davis. How does one go about reviewing a blues album? Well you listen for good acoustic guitar, harmonica and a strong story-telling voice where you can feel the emotion of the message; Nashville Fats has all bases covered!
 
Kind Hearted Savior speaks of giving your heart to Jesus. What a wonderful way to do it as Nashville Fats' blues make you feel the love for our Savior right down to one's very soul. You feel blues more than the average style of songs. The Holy Spirit certainly stirs within you when listening to this project. Early Morning Blue Gospel has a bit of 50's rock (Little Richard) feeling to it. Swing Low Sweet Chariot adds a little spiritual gospel to the blues fold and I enjoyed this song the most. The guitar on this song is Nashville at his finest! The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock is a clever adaptation of a well known children's song. The concepts of Nashville's music are simply amazing. There is quite a bit of creativity in each track throughout Jesus Blues! It's going to be Burning Down there is a straight forward blues song telling you, hey you better make sure you're going to Heaven and not that other place which isn't worth mentioning :)
 
Prodigal Son is a story about well, the Prodigal Son, who had two sons. I think you get the gist of it, it's blues at its best. The listener is hanging on every word and the music only intensifies the story and I certainly enjoyed this song from beginning to end! Sinning Blues just keeps the blues a rollin' on. If you are a blues fan you are completely caught up in the project right now. I can almost see the smoke in a crowded little music hall (almost that is, there is a huge difference having Christian lyrics instead of secular ones!). The Lord's Prayer has never sounded so good. I wish we could do this one in church, but I doubt we could keep the tambourines beating correctly as this blues song does not keep 4/4 time (on purpose of course!). Jesus Said closes out the cassette in fine fashion. Nashville saved his best for last. It personifies Christian blues as the song has great hooks and wonderful harmonica.
 
Nashville Fats has a wonderful gift from our Lord and Savior! He shares his heart and soul with you on Jesus Blues and you should strongly consider picking up this cassette. After listening to his music I was in the mood for an old post 1940 movie. They don't make movies like they used to anymore, and the same goes for Nashville whose music is timeless and priceless!

Review of live show in Maximum Ink

The following review appeared in the November 2000 column "Retrograde Motion" written by Dave Leucinger for the Maximum Ink music magazine it is posted here with permission of Maximum Ink.

Nashville Fats at Jackson Street Station, Janesville, November 11: Blues has its legacy of preaching bluesmen -- like the late Rev. Gary Davis and Wisconsin's own talented Rev. Charlie Edmonds. Fats (Peter Thorpe) adeptly addresses that link  with wry songwriting and multi-instrumental prowess. While there's still a gulf between the secular and religious performance camps, I'd expect him showing up at many blues festivals in future years.