Robert Finley, Sharecropper’s Son Review

Robert Finley is a self-taught blues and soul singer that recently lost his eyesight and was forced to retire from carpentry. Finley started writing his own songs at age ten and Learned to play by ear; he developed a unique personal style that continues to serve him well today. “When you train yourself by ear, you don’t always get the chords as perfect as they should be—and sometimes you stumble upon a better chord,” he says. “It really is a never-ending process; I’m constantly learning, and there’s always room for improvement. I’ve been playing for about 52 years; if you’re satisfied with everything you do, that don’t leave no room to grow. But the main thing, I got a great team putting this stuff together. God blessed me with the voice, but the connections are getting me in the right place at the right time in front of the right people, so I can display what I got.” Dan Auerbach, The Black Keys frontman and new Nashville-based record label owner, was sent a video of the musician playing songs on the street. Recognizing the singer’s immense and innate talent, he invited Finley to sing with him on the score for a friend’s graphic novel—a dark, bluesy project released in May called Murder Ballads. But it wasn’t until the pair got into the studio together that Auerbach fully understood the exceptional power of Finley’s voice—and where that might take them. “I realized very quickly Robert’s capable of doing so much more than old blues songs,” Auerbach says. “He could do a wide range of things very easily. He’s a blues guitar player, but when he puts his guitar down, you could set him in front of an orchestra, and he would sing just as good as Ray Charles on the first take. He has that magnetic hugeness about his voice and just knows where to put it in the pocket, always.” Finley is now releasing Sharecropper’s Son, a soulful masterpiece and career-defining album written by Finley and co-written and produced by Dan Auerbach.

Bottom Line: Sharecropper’s Son was recorded at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville, with Finley’s formidable vocals and lyrical stylings conveying ten tracks. The album has songwriting by Finley, Auerbach, Bobby Wood, and respected country songwriter Pat McLaughlin. Also, it features an all-star band, who has worked with everyone from Elvis to Wilson Pickett, including guitar expertise from Auerbach himself. Finley stated, “I want people to understand that I can’t be kept in a box. I like to do all kinds of music – everything that means anything to me, from gospel to blues to soul to country to rock ‘n’ roll.” Opening with “Souled Out On You,” Finley’s vocals will grab you and keep you listening with his soulful, honest, and warmly hued singing style. Though the piano could use a little attention to tuning, the vibe and feel are spot-on. The horns add color and texture to frame Finley’s wide-ranging vocals. “Country Child” is given a country-blues shuffle feel with tasty blues guitar and Finley singing about the Jim Crow era. “Starting To See” is an emotional soul track with a big organ and driving bass. Overall, Finley’s singing is a joy to listen to, and the songs offer a diverse setting to hear this soulful singer do his thing. That’s the short of it!

Connect with Robert Finley: Website |