Frankie Bluesy Pfeiffer (BLUES MAGAZINE) - France
Paul Cox Good To Me - Note Records - NCD 1007-2

Produit par Roger Cotton et toujours fidèle à l’écurie Note Records, Paul Cox démontre avec cet album que l’on peut compter sur lui pour défendre ce blues made in UK que sa voix fait vibrer et résonner avec talent, soutenu également en cela pour un quatuor qui donne aux 14 morceaux un volume, une étoffe sonore de qualité. Un grand, très grand coup de chapeau au talentueux Steve Dixon, non seulement batteur au sein du Paul Cox Band mais aussi auteur-compositeur et qui signe pas moins de 7 des titres de ce CD, dont le fougueux Weekend Blues Man qui ouvre l’album, le très bon Who You Gonna Lie To et un excellent Fly de toute beauté bleutée. Comme dans chaque album de ‘Paulo’, vous aurez droit à un de ces slows assassins qui rendent une soirée inoubliable, avec en bonus une formidable reprise du non moins célèbre 634-5789 dans lequel la (très) belle Val Cowell vient joindre sa voix à celle de Paul. Signé Paul Cox et Mike Summerland, Suddenly vous aligne plus de sept minutes d’un blues tendre et saignant à la fois, avec un Roger Cotton toujours égal à lui-même aux claviers, c'est-à-dire excellent, et avec un Mike Summerland à la six cordes et à la basse dont le toucher ravira les amateurs de notes finement ciselées. Et s’il ne fallait retenir qu’un titre de ce Paulo-là ? Sans hésiter Who You Gonna Lie To, un titre qui confirme également la signature d’un grand bluesman, le batteur Steve Dixon.

Frankie Bluesy Pfeiffer (BLUES MAGAZINE)

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English Translation Babelfish

Paul Cox Good To Me - Note Records - NCD 1007-2 - www.note-music.co.uk Note: 3 CD Produced by Roger Cotton and always faithful to the stable Notes Records, Paul Cox shows with this album that one can count on him to defend this blues made in the U.K. that its voice makes vibrate and resound with talent, also constant in that for a quartet which gives to the 14 pieces a volume, a sound fabric of quality. Great, very great blow of hat in talented Steve Dixon, not only beater within the Paul Cox Band but also composer-songwriter and who does not sign less than 7 of the titles of this CD, of which impetuous weekend Man Blues which opens the album, very good Who You Gonna Lie To and excellent Fly of any bluish beauty. As in each album of ' Paulo', you will have right to one of these slow fox trots assassins which make one evening unforgettable, with in no-claims bonus a formidable resumption from the not less famous 634-5789 in which (very) beautiful the Valley Cowell comes to join its voice to that of Paul. Signed Paul Cox and Mike Summerland, Suddenly aligns you more than seven minutes of a blues tender and bleeding at the same time, with a Roger Cotton always equal to itself with the keyboards, i.e. excel, and with a Mike Summerland with the six cords and with low whose touch will charm the amateurs of finely engraved notes. And if one had to retain only one title of this Paulo-là? Without hesitating Who You Gonna Binds To, a title which also confirms the signature of large a bluesman, the beater Steve Dixon. Frankie Bluesy Pfeiffer (BLUES MAGAZINE)

Tom Hyslop  - Blues Revue (USA)   Oct 2005

20052005Paul Cox has that U.K. blues singer thing going on. Choice covers such as Robert Cray's "The Forecast Calls for Pain" and Wilson Pickett's "634-5789" stand against drummer Steve Dixon's originals, such as the steamy "Who You Gonna Lie To?" and the funky "Alone in the Dark," as well as Cox's own dramatic "Suddenly." A duet with John Smyth on "Dangerous Mood" is enhanced by Roger Cotton's piano fills, and guitarist Mike Summerland turns in a tasteful performance. Fans of Paul Rodgers and Joe Cocker should enjoy Good to Me (Note 1007).

 Tom Hyslop

Paul Cox - Good To Me

Paul Jones considers Paul Cox as one of his favourite singers – no pressure there, then! Good To Me opens with Weekend Blues Man and shows what a great voice for blues rock that Cox has. His very tight band produces a very full sound and guitar and harmonica from Mike Summerland and Alan Glen respectively are standouts. This is a mainly self-written album, the obvious exceptions will show themselves later. There's high class Rhythm & Blues on Middle Of Nowhere before a vocal duet with John 'Smiggy' Smyth on Dangerous Mood. This is the first of the non-originals, is piano based, with Roger Cotton excelling, and starts slower & more laconic than the first two but when Smyth arrives it changes into a burgeoning bar-room blues. Who You Gonna Lie To is blue eyed soul with Nick Payn and Matt Winch filling in perfectly on horns. Ride On A Pony is the next of the three songs not written by the band. This is a Free song with a slide guitar intro. Paul Rodgers is probably my favourite vocalist of all time but Cox's gritty vocal covers this well and the version is very strong. Soul And Passion is slowed down and Joe Cocker comes to mind here. The sentiments are in the right place but I feel that this is on the weak side. The band is back to business on Fly. This is driven by guitar and organ and the Hammond just gives a great sound. The rest of the song is pretty straightforward but Mike Summerland on guitar is a hidden gem. Cox and the band take on the classic 634-5789 and Cox's duet with Val Cowell is excellent. Cox's voice is just perfect for this type of song but it is Cowell, who steps forward from backing vocal, who turns in an exceptional performance. Only Time Will Tell is just a filler. Maybe Paul is trying not to be a one trick pony. The Forecast Calls For Pain is better known as a silky Robert Cray song but Cox's gritty vocal makes it much more menacing and turns it into a highlight. Next up is a slow song that is neither sugary or a filler. Suddenly is a sultry blues that will just sweep you away. The title track is high octane Rhythm & Blues that has the band in fine form. The album finishes with the acoustic country influenced Don't Think Twice and the funky R&B of Alone In The Dark. These show that Paul Cox is a singer that can take on many styles but his heart, and his future, lies in Rhythm & Blues.

David Blue - http://www.netrhythms.co.uk

Freddy Cellis - Rootstime Radio - Belgium - July 2005

Paul Cox - Good To Me

Paul Cox geboren in Wolverhampton, Engeland in het jaar 1959, maakt er een erezaak van om blues geïnspireerde Rhythm & Blues terug tot leven te wekken. Na het eerder verschenen "Ain't Nothin' Doin'" en "Real World" is er nu "Good to Me", opgenomen begin januari "Live!" in de studio. "Good To Me" is dus het derde album voor Note Records, en voor een derde maal is de productie in handen van Roger Cotton. Tijdens deze opnames kreeg Paul vocale steun van Val Cowell (Bad Influence), van Alan Glen (Yardbirds) op harmonica, Roger Cotton (Peter Green's Splinter Group) op keybooards en Hammond, Al MacLean op bas en Mike Summerland op gitaar. Acht van de veertien songs zijn geschreven door drummer Steve Dixon, dewelke ook piano speelt op "Soul And Passion". Persoolijk vind ik het gitaar- en harmonicawerk van respectievelijk Mike Summerland en Alan Glen wel zeer uitmuntend. Naast het co-schrijven van songs met Summerland neemt Cox het vocale gedeelte voor zijn rekening. Met de opener "Weekend Blues Man" is meteen de toon gegeven van dit wel uitermate sterke album. De volgende nummers "Middle Of Nowhere" en het vocaal duet met John 'Smiggy' Smyth in "Dangerous Mood" zijn songs die nazinderen. "Who You Gonna Lie To" is soulvol getint met Nick Payn en Matt Winch op sax en trompet. Mooi is de slidegitaar intro in "Ride On A Pony" en in deze cover van Paul Rodgers is Cox's sterke stem op zijn best. "Soul And Passion" is een rustiger nummer en laat wel even denken aan Joe Cocker. "Fly" is een sterk gedreven nummer door het prachtige giaarwerk van Mike Summerland. Ook Cox's duet met Val Cowell in 634-5789 is zeer subliem. Cox's stem is zeer ideal voor dit nummer, maar het is vooral Cowell, wie hier een stap naar voren doet van zijn backing vocals. "The Forecast Calls For Pain" is beter gekend van Robert Cray, maar Cox maakt van dit nummer één van de uitschieters. De titeltrack heeft veel Rhythm & Blues volume en laat de band op zijn best horen. De afsluiters, het akoestische country getinte "Don't Think Twice" en de funky R&B in "Alone In The Dark" laten horen dat Paul Cox van alle markten thuis is en dat zijn stem zeer goed tot zijn recht komt in deze songs. Paul Cox is naast songsmid echter in de eerste plaats een uitstekend zanger. Hij werd op deze cd bovendien bijgestaan door klassemuzikanten en dat maakt dat "Good To Me" er best wel mag zijn.

Freddy Cellis
http://www.rootstime.be/

Pete Sargeant - Blues Matters! magazine – July 2005

 PAUL COX - Good To Me

Anyone thinking that us Brits don’t produce much to compete with the quirky and gritty all-roots-music-influenced discs that come from the US by the likes of Delbert McClinton and John Hiatt should head straight to store and investigate this latest release from Paul Cox. That this bluesy soul set stands up well against say the late lamented Little Village is a big plus. The CD is packed with original songs in which a rasping vocal and crisp guitar playing can suddenly snap into a Muddy Waters Delta riff and out again with an organic sense and flow and where grainy horn charts embellish the Southern edge that this man mixes in with his strident BritBlues influences so well.

This is truly unisex R&B as she will love the yearning voice and sheer authority and any male fond of crisp drumming and sharp guitarwork ain’t gonna complain either ; however it’s the quality of the songs that lift this release above others and probably above Paul’s fine earlier works. ‘Dangerous Mood’ packs a mean punch and ‘Fly’ is an exhilarating a tune as you will find on any current release, unusual chord changes giving the song a bite and push that makes it special.

If like me you incline to the view  that Paul Rodgers and Queen go together like sardines and pineapple (whatever the box office receipts) then a singer of this calibre producing always decent and often exciting selections with a hot band and a subtle touch is a bit of a find.

Pete Sargeant

Ashwyn Smyth - Digital Blues - July 2005

Paul Cox - Good To Me

A new release from Paul Cox is always worth waiting for and July 9^th saw the launch of his latest collection “Good To Me”, a selection that sees him in fine voice and features some very welcome guests. The CD kicks off with a fine track “Weekend Blues Man”, which must strike a note with many fellow musicians and is a smashing up tempo number featuring a great horn section (Nick Payn & Matt Winch), the harp of Alan Glen, additional vocals from Val Cowell supplementing Paul’s excellent band comprising Steve Dixon – drums (who also wrote many of the tracks), Al MacLean – Bass and backing vocals, Mike Summerland – guitar & bass and Roger Cotton – keyboards & Hammond. “Middle of Nowhere” is a great number which sees Paul at his rocking best. Complete change of mood for “Dangerous Mood” a slow and dirty duet with Jon ‘Smiggy’ Smyth (no relation!) featuring great guitar from Mike.  There is a mid-pace funkiness to “Who You Gonna Lie To?” whilst “Ride A Pony”, is a superbly mean and smoky number which sees Mike playing some more great slide, gorgeous. “Soul & Passion” is a beautiful ballad with Paul accompanied just by piano & Hammond to superb effect.  “Fly” is a typical Paul Cox soulful mid-tempo track, lovely.

Next up is a great duet with Paul & Val covering Wilson Pickett’s 1966 smash, “634 5789”, Val’s great voice is a fine blend with Paul’s and they really do an excellent job here. The acoustic & gentle “Only Time Will Tell” is just gorgeous and is followed by the funky “The Forecast Calls For Pain” which, in turn takes us to a slow and moody seven minutes of “Suddenly” which builds in power slowly but surely and must be a live favourite. “Good To Me” starts off with an almost Hendrixian psychedelic guitar and I would say Mike really enjoys this track. Penultimate track “Don’t Think Twice”, has some more superb guitar and has a lovely country blues feel to it, which brings us to the finale, “”Alone In The Dark”, a mid tempo number with a lovely funky feeling.

Congratulations to Paul & all involved with this excellent CD, I really enjoyed it and look forward to catching him live soon. This CD sounds very “Good To Me”! – June 2005

ashwyn.smyth@btopenworld.com

Frank Franklin - Blues in Britain UK - July 2005

Paul Cox - Good To Me

Good To Me was recorded during January of this year. Drummer Steve Dixon takes the lion's share of the writing credits with seven entire titles plus one co-written with Paul himself. Paul also shares a brace of titles with guitarist Mike Summerland who incidentally, instrumentally, excels throughout. Al MacLean is solid on bass and also contributes backing vocals. Half of the titles also feature Bad Influence singer Val Cowell on backing vocals. Producer Roger Cotton is on keyboards and Alan Glen guests on harmonica on a couple of titles. A brass section of Nick Payn & Matt Winch on Saxes and trumpet respectively feature on three titles.

The session opens with two rockin' numbers: "Weekend Blues Man" (Cox/Summerland) has Spencer Davis style keys and some superb harmonica followed by "Middle Of Nowhere" (Olson). John 'Smiggy' Smith contributes vocals on "Dangerous Mood" (Moore/Parton) which Paul opens in ballad form and switches into a slow burnin' blues rocker; there are some more fine keyboards from Roger here. "Ride On A Pony" (Fraser/Rodgers) is taken from Paul's Fire & Water project, ) a tribute to Free, Bad Company and Led Zeppelin), is an unadulterated cover of Paul Rodgers' universally appealing seventies Brit-rock. On "634-5789" (Cropper/Floyd) Paul duets with Val who matches him well.

Paul's material is marginally more rock biased than on previous outings yet this is another solid set of celebratory, blues-soul-rock and ballads set from south London's voice of blue-eyed soul.

Rating: 8

Paul Cox - Good To Me

PAUL COX: GOOD TO ME. - Great record. A real discovery for me. Very personal vocal style. Good mood, feel, production. At least 5 highly remarkable tracks: Dangerous Mood (can imagine how hard it was to make it original after Keb' Mo' and BB King, but he did it; the best one), Middle Of Nowhere, Ride On A Pony, Weekend Blues Man, and Only Time Will Tell (rather a sort of folk-blues; Steve Dixon seems to be a big fan of Jim Croce! I am too, though...) The only mistake was to include "634-5789" - this cover had to be something really extraordinary to have a success, but it isn't.
The last remark: Paul should pay more attention to what he says in liner notes. The phrase "We've gone for a live approach this time, many people tell me it's when I'm at my best" - sounds ridiculous when applied to a Blues record. All Bluesmen know that they risk to sound false if they don't play live - either onstage or in a studio.

http://www.ms-blues.com/

Paul Cox - Good To Me

Just got the new CD and can't stop playing it. I am recording a show for Tampa Bay radio this weekend and I am going to feature it on the show.
Cheers Ray & Barb

Pete Feenstra - May 2005 - Second Review

Paul Cox "Good To Me" Note Records (Finished Item)

This album crept into my play list some time ago on the strength of an advance copy. With the CD set for a July release date, I'm still ahead of things, but finally in receipt of the fully credited album. And what a fine album it is, with superb Blues/Soul vocalist Paul Cox finally delivering the kind of set his talent has long promised but failed to deliver.

While Paul's previous two solo efforts have been solid affairs, there was a core weakness in the material. Happily on “Good To Me”, there is no such problem.

Paul teams up with guitarist Mick Summerland for the bluesy rocker “Weekend Bluesman”, while powerful drummer Steve Dixon shows himself to be a fine writer contributing 7 songs and a co-write, of which the rocking “Middle of Nowhere”, and the melodic ballad “Fly” both give Paul a suitable context to exercise his superb voice.

Back in the 60's people couldn't believe Chris Farlowe was white because of his black sounding voice. The same could be said of Paul Cox, who goes on to sing a powerful duet on “Dangerous Mood” with John Smyth.

Much will be written about this fine album in weeks to come, meanwhile check out Paul's date sheet and his forthcoming London album launch in Sutton. The gig won't be until Sept 4th, but in the meantime you will have plenty of time to check out this excellent album.

Pete Feenstra - Feb 2005 - First Review

Paul Cox "Good To Me" Note Records (Rough Mix)

Greater London music fans have long known that Paul Cox is the eire apparent to Chris Farlow with a stunning voice, physical on stage presence, and a cracking band. All that has been lacking down the years has been the elusive hit, and some memorable core material to help him ascend the ladder.

“Good To Me” goes a long way to rectifying the situation, and while I doubt today’s radio will find much room for this excellent vocalist, this is a fine album worth looking out for all lovers of classy soul tinged rock/blues.

The first four tracks alone are as good as it gets. “Weekend Blues Man” is a rousing opener complete with a fine gritty performance by Cox, backed by a tight band and some excellent horn parts.

The following “Middle of Nowhere” is the kind of soulful piece that would grace any Delbert McLinton album, while Paul offers some magnificent phrasing on the languid opening of “Dangerous Mood”. Roger Cotton adds a delicate piano accompaniment, before the band kicks in to a heavy duty big band style blues. “Who You Gonna Lie Too” is also a well crafted ballad well suited to Paul’s powerful voice.

Bad Influence lead vocalist Val Cowell doubles up the vocal attack on the rather obvious cover, but superbly delivered “634 57893, while “Fly” is a more pop friendly effort worthy of a single release.

Paul Cox has for too long been admired by fellow muso’s and has never really been on the end of any high profile promo, save for Paul Jones’s promptings. This album on Note records augers well for the future, and hopefully will bring the beam of the spotlight on to arguably the UK’s leading vocalist.