The Anderson Brothers, Stefan and Joe, were Shreveport, Louisiana natives. Stefan Anderson was an amazingly gifted singer (a stronger, bigger-voiced Joe Cocker), and a deftly soulful organist. Younger brother Joe, a tasteful, southern soul guitarist, had a huskier, lighter voice that was otherwise very similar to Stefanfs. Both brothers were accomplished songwriters as well. The Andersons migrated to Jackson, Mississippi in 1968, where they remained fixtures on the music scene for many years. Stefan released a few singles on Capitol and Stax, but the brothers never recorded together until 1977. Thatfs when Tim Whitsett, former president of Stax Recordsf publishing division and GM of Chrysalis Music in London and his business partner Chick Churchill (keyboardist with British Rock group Ten Years After) signed the brothers to a production contract at the suggestion of Whitsettfs brother Carson. Carson Whitsett was a key member of the crack Malaco Records rhythm section. However, that was only one of the reasons Whitsett and Churchill decided to produce the Anderson Brothers at Malaco. Several southern studios were noted for their tight knit rhythm sections in the seventies, particularly the musicians assembled by Stax Records, Muscle Shoals Sound, and Chips Momanfs American Studio in Memphis. Though not as well known, the Malaco Records rhythm section in Jackson, Mississippi was every bit as talented and creative as any of them. James Stroud (drums), Carson Whitsett (keyboards), Dino Zimmerman (guitar), and Don Barrett (bass) contributed to numerous hits by artists as diverse as ZZ Hill, Dorothy Moore, Anita Ward, Little Milton, Denise LaSalle, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Connie Francis, Eddie Floyd, and Paul Simon. Moreover, James Stroud was the drummer in the Andersonsf band when they all moved to Jackson from Shreveport in 1968. Guitarist Dino Zimmerman was also from Shreveport, and had previously gigged with the Andersons. Alternating lead vocals, at times the Andersons sound very similar, with Stefan's deeper voice complimented by Joefs soulful tenor. Both Andersons stepped up in the songwriting department. Stefan co-wrote the road song "Ten Wheel Dog" with Southern Soul cult figure Dan Penn, and he also co-wrote two terrific ballads in "Let's Go to My Place" and "Let Her Dream". Joe contributed the first albumfs title song gLock eEm Away,h and both brothers contributed three songs each to the second album, Baby I Love You. Whitsett's songs show why he had so much success as a writer in the following decades. gSame Ole Kind of Heartache,h gI Wish She Would,h gBack on the Stage Again,h and the beautiful gAnother Dayh all feature super infectious, sing-along hooks. Malaco bass player Don Barrettfs eFinish What We Startedf was an eAf side release in the UK. Don Barrett and two underground Soul legends, Frederick Knight and Tommy Tate, were the backing vocal group on the Lock eEm Away album, which was released by British label DJM in 1978. The Anderson Brothersf second and last album, Baby I Love You, was recorded in the fall of 1978 for release in 1979. Like the first album, Baby I Love You was recorded at Malaco with the great Malaco rhythm section, the difference being that background vocals this time were provided by Rhodes, Chalmers, Rhodes, known for their work with Al Green and The Bee Gees. Both albums contain numerous potential singles in a style best described as a gumbo of pop, rock & roll, R&B, and honky-tonk-country. Nevertheless, the albums are focused and flow well. The overall feel is rooted in the seventies, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are definitely traces of Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Bruce Hornsby, Boz Scaggs, and Steely Dan here. Stefanfs stellar vocal performances on the ballads are as compelling as they are timeless, and Joe really shines on the midtempo rockers. In 2008, the digital label LocoBop unearthed and re-released The Anderson Brothers' 1977 and 1978 DJM albums, both digitally remastered by one of the original producers, Tim Whitsett.
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