For covers, Rawls looked to George Harrison (“Any Road”), J.J. “Angeline” is a mellower reworking of a revved-up rocker Rawls penned for the LeRois, “Don’t They Know (Who We Think We Are),” a Rawls/Suzy Elkins co-write, is fun and funny, “The Day Don Rich Died” is a salute to the Buckaroos’ guitarist, a huge influence on Rawls’ style. The 13-track album, recorded in Austin at Wire Studio with Stuart Sullivan at the controls, includes older songs, new songs, ballads, rockers and rollers, an array of top-flight players and a very special surprise guest. “Brave World” showcases Casper Rawls not only as the bandleader and chief guitarist, it also features his vocal talents and chops as a songwriter and co-writer as well as his good taste in selecting songs to cover. “Really, I don’t have the words to competently say how much it meant to be asked to help with it, or how much it helps my soul to know how pleased he is with how it turned out.” “I was honored to be asked to produce the record,” Field said. He’s also taken several turns in the producer’s chair. Casper has recorded on more than 75 albums as a band member and as a sideman with projects including five LeRoi Brothers albums as well as discs by a diverse list of artists such as Toni Price, Miss Lavelle White, Doyle Bramhall, The Derailers, Teisco Del Rey and Juke Logan. Though “Brave World” is Rawls’ first outing with his name in big letters, he’s no stranger to a recording studio. Having worked through the years with Kent “Omar” Dykes, Webb Wilder, Mark Germino, John Mayall, Sonny Landreth, Buddy Guy, Los Straitjackets and a slew of other all-out music makers, Field knows more than a little something about guitar champs – and nicknames.Ĭonversely, having worked with Field through the years, when it finally came time for Casper Rawls to make “Brave World,” his debut album as a leader, it was a cinch for Rawls to tag Field to produce the disc. I had named Omar ‘Omar’ – and I was soon to name Webb Wilder ‘Webb Wilder.’” Back then his main thing was blues, like Cobra-era Otis Rush and early Clapton, and the contrast between his musical style and his off-stage personality just seemed to demand that I give him a stage name – Casper.
“The first time he sat in with us, the intensity and facility he brought to his guitar playing was stunning. He was such a nice, generous, unassuming and guileless person that he and I really hit it off,” Field said. He was such a good friend to – and supporter of – our band. “When The Howlers, later Omar & The Howlers, moved from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Austin in 1976 one of the first friends we made was a guy from San Antonio (we couldn’t pronounce Helotes) named Rick Rawls.
Producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/nickname purveyor R.S. When the name Casper Rawls comes up in a music conversation the first thing most people talk about is how he’s such a nice guy and Casper Rawls is a monster a guitar-playing monster whose good manners and good taste never quite obscure his musical chops. Rick “Casper” Rawls is quiet he’s also unassuming, self-effacing and exceedingly polite.īut Casper Rawls is not a ghost. A friendly ghost, but a ghost nonetheless.
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