Oklahoma

by Keb' Mo

Overview

Keb' Mo' named his 2019 album Oklahoma after the home state of Dara Tucker, the songwriter who co-wrote the title song with the veteran blues troubadour. Until that collaboration, Keb' Mo' planned to make an acoustic album, but "Oklahoma" opened the door to an expansive record that finds space for plenty of cameos (Rosanne Cash, Robert Randolph, and Taj Mahal all make appearances), not to mention understated protest. While the bluesman doesn't disguise his political songs -- the messages of "Put a Woman in Charge" and "Don't Throw It Away" are plain in their titles -- he does wrap them in the same cozy groove that characterizes the rest of the record. This isn't sugarcoating a poison pill so much as it is reflecting the easy, soulful gait Keb' Mo' has at this stage of his career. Keb' Mo' may not move quickly, yet he moves confidently, inhabiting the heartbreak of "This Is My Home" as thoroughly as he does the back-porch stomp of "Ridin' on a Train." While "Ridin' on a Train" isn't the only cut that wears its blues roots proudly -- "I Should've" is a wry catalog of regrets -- much of Oklahoma feels smooth and soulful, a sound that suits Keb' Mo' quite well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/26/2024
Label:	Concord
UPC:	0888072105850
Rank:	35455

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Keb' Mo'   Primary Artist,Bass,Dobro,Guitar,Shaker,Vocals,Mandolin,Harmonica,Percussion,Guitar (Steel),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),National Steel Guitar
Rosanne Cash   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Robbie Brooks-Moore   Primary Artist,Vocals,Handclapping,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Taj Mahal   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Scotty Huff   Trumpet
Emoni Wilkins   Vocals (Background)
Marcus Finnie   Drums
Moiba Mustapha   Vocals (Background)
Keio Stroud   Drums
David Rodgers   Keyboards,Wurlitzer
Michael O'Gieblyn   Violin
Emily Nelson   Cello
Jaci Velasquez   Vocals (Background)
Chester Thompson   Drums
Colin Linden   Guitar,Mandolin,Guitar (Electric)
Jason Eskridge   Vocals (Background)
Robert Randolph   Lap Steel Guitar
Jim Hoke   Accordion,Wurlitzer
Dara Tucker   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Eric Ramey   Bass
Emily Kohavi   Viola
Jovan Quallo   Saxophone
Corrie Covell   Violin
Cremaine Booker   Cello
Carter Moore   Handclapping,Vocals (Background)
Joshua Scalf   Trombone
Samuel Alexander   Keyboards,Wurlitzer
Nickie Conley   Vocals (Background)
Andy Leftwich   Violin

Technical Credits

Dave Hagen   Mixing
Michelle Morgan   Artwork
Alex Jarvis   Mixing
Katie Hildreth   Package Design
Jeremy Cowart   Photography
Cliff Goldmacher   Composer
Anthony Scarlati   Photography
Zach Allen   Engineer
Lori Lambert   Art Direction
Beth Nielsen Chapman   Composer
Bill LaBounty   Composer
Colin Linden   Composer,Producer
John Lewis Parker   Composer
Jenny Yates   Composer
Richard Dodd   Mastering
Keb' Mo'   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Melvin "Maestro" Lightford   String Arrangements
Dara Tucker   Composer
Robbie Brooks-Moore   Photography
Kevin R. Moore   Composer
Christy Watkins   Photography
Charles Esten   Composer
David Diskin   Art Direction
Joseph Alan Wood   Composer
Joe Martino   Mixing