Ever heard of Arkansas's answer to The Righteous Brothers, Neville Brothers and The Everly Brothers? Then get your red hot, sweet funky Cate Brothers, right here!

Band Origins And History

For more than 29 years this song writing duo has wowed audiences in the South, from their home state to Tennessee. Popular on many circuits, The Cate Brothers put on a consummate show, with music featuring elements of Blues, R&B, soul, rock, funk and even country music, and have worked with Maria Muldaur, Levon Helms, Coco Montoya, Duck Dunne and Steve Cropper among other musical greats.

As The Cate Gang they put out a couple excellent smooth soul albums with a Stax/Volt type of Memphis sound in the early 70's. A few years later, as The Cate Brothers, these talented twins released a top notch eponymous record,
frosted with the guest appearance of former members of the funky Booker T. & The M.G.'s, (Green Onions), and a few members of Bob Dylan's original back-up band, The Band.

Several more albums followed throughout the 70's. The 80's saw no new Cate Brothers releases, but the busy duo put in plenty of hours penning sure fire hits for the likes of John Mayall, Kenny Rodgers, Neville Brothers, Levon Helm and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Band.

Popular sessionists, the Cates also guested on a number of friends' recordings, and were among the hardest working band on the primarily, Southern Soul circuit. Luckily, the 1990's saw the return of Cate Brothers' albums, plus the live collection of the original Cates Gang material.

Radioland: The Music

With his amazingly smooth and supple tenor, reminding me of another original Hi Records Memphis soul brother, Al Green, Ernie Cates, possesses talent a-plenty. His keyboard work showcases over-all tight riffs, and probably comes in handy when composing new tunes.

Brother Earl, contributes backing vocals, but has developed his own strong following for a clear, ringing tone he achieves on lead guitar. The siblings contribute their respective strengths to a standout original, Am I Losing You, which just may be worth the price of admission alone, on Radioland's 1995 release:

I heard you talkin' in your sleep,
Calling out another man's name.
My suspicion's killing me,
Are you playing the cheating game?

I want to know where I stand.
Am I in,
Am I out,
Of your plan.
I want to know what to do.
Am I losing you?
Am I losing you?
Am I losing you?

This song mines the uncertainty of a relationship where a woman suddenly goes from 1 night out a week with her friends, to 3; where notes not meant to find, are found, and where the singer probably already knows the answer, but tortures himself a little more, just having to ask the painful questions anyway. Bonnie Raitt would call this roasting on the spit of love. Can I get a witness?

Also ably covered by close friend, Montoya, on his 1995 award winning debut, Gotta Mind To Travel, The Cates nevertheless own this arrangement and chillingly smooth vocals. The popular duo have appeared on several Montoya CDs, and like family, this electric Blues guitar slinging phenom returns the favor on a lengthy workout, Damn Guilty Blues.

More upbeat than the typical dirge-like Blues, the licks are incendiary enough to blister paint. The intensity gets turned down a notch for the familiar sounding title track, which owes much to The Doobie Brothers, and highlights the similarities between Ernie's high falsetto and honey lipped crooner, Michael McDonald, (What A Fool Believes). Just as McDonald did with The Doobies, Radioland introduces a smooth pop veneer
over a bubbling country-rock and R&B rhythm.

Another helping of low-down and dirty Blues, Please, No More wrenches every molecule of emotion out of a classic cry of pain and regret. Percolating back into a sumptuous Southern-fried groove check, Happy Ever After Love. ensures an even balance between heartbreak and more upbeat themes on this CD.

Strong stand-outs include my particular favorite: Strip Search (For Love), a funk-infested dance track, that celebrates the joyous elements of infatuation. Recalling King Curtis, Personal Soul, also brings to mind some early Memphis Soul and later work by Average White Band. Sometimes It Jumps, banishes the Blues, with gospel-style testimony to the power of love.

Final Thoughts

All 12 tracks are solid, well-produced R&B, with a tight connection between the bass and drum bottom, and just the right touch of Midtown Horns, whose charts, again, pay lavish homage to the great Stax/Volt catalog of yore.
Funky organ, and clear-toned lead guitar with crystalline sustain power the mighty, mighty vocals, making for a foot stomping, rocking good time.

Also recommended: any Coco Montoya CD, (there are currently 4), and Live, the previously mentioned, 1999, release of early Cates Brothers work, which predate the Asylum recordings from the mid 70's.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends