Tommy Cathey was born in Dyersburg, Tennessee in 1951. I know him for being the cool, longtime bassist for Christian rock legends Degarmo & Key. He's also been a member of the mainstream bands Butterscotch Caboose, Alamo, Omaha, Target, and Almost Famous. Tommy has shared the stage with the likes of Peter Frampton and Black Sabbath. He's also done session work with the likes of Jackson Browne and Jerry Lee Lewis. Fast forward to 2017 and Tommy released his solo debut STOP DROP AND ROCK. I have an autographed copy of it!
'Jump and Shout' mixes 70's rock sounds with gospel and includes an electric guitar solo. It's about moving on after a failed relationship: "Gonna break this hold that you have on me/I'm gonna wipe the dust of you right off of my feet/You know you broke me down with your hit and run heart/And now that I am over you/I'll make a brand new start". 'Times Are A' Changin'' is a cool sounding 70's rock song with great electric guitar work. It's a song of encouragement: "Circle the wagons now/Don't you give up, don't give in/Reach for the power then you do it all over again.../Always gets better/We've been here before/Look for the light when you open the door/It's gonna get better, can't get much worse/Times are a' changin'".
Next up is 'Maybe in Time', one heck of a 70's rock number that plods along and offers these words of spiritual wisdom: "No time for indecision/Follow the Master Plan/This is no dress rehearsal/Open your eyes and see/We only pass through one time/Next stop...eternity". 'Sweet Reunion' doesn't even run two minutes. It's a pretty, acoustic song from a traveling musician addressed to his romantic partner: "I can't wait for sweet reunion/I can't wait to see your face/Counting minutes, counting hours/Til I'm in your warm embrace".
'Shadows' is a slow, calming, atmospheric sounding instrumental good for meditation. 'Makes Me Paranoid' rocks and is a song about indecision: "Oooh, it makes me paranoid/Oooh, I get so paranoid/Someone help me baby/I need to choose.../Once again I stand in open ground/Which way to go/And I'm wondering what to do/I think it's only my distractions running loose".
What follows is 'Can't Live Without You', a ballad that includes these very relatable lyrics: "No, don't ever go/You have to know/I can't make it without you/Oh, I love you so/Don't ever go/I can't live without you now". The electric guitar work here is a highlight. 'Two Hearts' is a short, sentimental, easy listening love song: "Two hearts beating as one/Two hearts love has begun/Now we stand hand in hand/In love's celebration/Now you see, we'll share our dreams in life's celebration".
'Fight the Good Fight' sounds like an older era DeGarmo & Key Christian rock song. It's about spiritual warfare: "I hear the battle sound/I see it goin' down/I'll go where peace is found/I reach for higher ground.../When the war is over/You've put up your best defense between Heaven and Hell/There can be no straddled fence". What a great song! Track 9 on the CD also includes the Bonus Track 'Measure of A Man'. Eddie Smith, a singer-songwriter of country music in Memphis, and a friend of Tommy's sings lead here. This notable country ballad speaks of a proposal: "A lazy old moon and a southern breeze/The happy in your laugh/Just hangin' out with me/A ring in a box/And your tremblin' hands/The heart of a woman/The measure of a man".
STOP DROP AND ROCK is a wonderful solo debut. Tommy Cathey's musical influences include Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and The Eagles, and that comes through on this record. Here, we have five 70's rock tracks, four sort of easy listening, and one country. There are an equal number of fast songs and ballads. Tommy is a good vocalist and an accomplished bass player. He also contributes acoustic guitar. Five musicians support him on this effort. Lyrically, this album is about having an optimistic outlook on life and living with eternity in mind. There are love songs and songs of encouragement to his fellow travelers. I'm rating STOP DROP AND ROCK 90% and recommending it to fans of Dogs of Peace. For more info visit www.tommycathey.com and/or connect with him on Facebook.