Eric Gales delivers a stunning tribute with A Tribute to LJK, a powerful and moving album honoring his late brother Manuel Gales, aka Little Jimmy King, set for digital release on August 29, 2025, and physical release on October 24 via Provogue. Featuring an all-star lineup including Buddy Guy, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa, Roosevelt Collier, and Josh Smith, this 10-track collection blends modern blues-rock with heartfelt nostalgia. Opening with a poignant spoken-word intro by Manuel’s twin Danuel Gales, the album bridges past and present, keeping his legacy alive with electrifying energy— trust me, go out and buy this album; you’ll thank me later. Rating: 10/10.
A Musical Family Legacy Reimagined
Having had the pleasure of seeing Eric Gales live, I can attest he’s the real deal—a guitarist of the highest order and an amazing storyteller. Growing up as the youngest of five guitar-playing siblings in Memphis, Tennessee, Gales channels that influence into this record, co-produced with Bonamassa and Smith. Idolizing Manuel—whose career soared with Albert King and Little Jimmy King & the Memphis Soul Survivors—Gales transforms tracks like “You Shouldn’t Have Left Me” and “Rockin’ Horse Ride,” the latter featuring Ingram’s fiery contribution, into personal epics. His 2002 loss of Manuel to a heart attack at 37, paired with his own past struggles, including a 2009 incarceration, infuses raw authenticity. “I wanted it to be the ultimate tribute… to deliver his tunes to the world through my eyes,” Gales says, and the result is undeniably badass.
Standout Tracks and Collaborations
The album opens with “You Shouldn’t Have Left Me,” a gritty reflection that sets the tone, followed by “Rockin’ Horse Ride,” where Ingram’s youthful vigor enhances Gales’ seasoned delivery. “Don’t Wanna Go Home,” featuring Bonamassa’s stinging solo, is a swaggering highlight with its slinky groove, while “It Takes A Whole Lotta Money,” with Bonamassa and Smith, showcases a tight, soulful interplay. The closer, “Somebody,” featuring Buddy Guy and Roosevelt Collier, is a masterful arc—starting acoustically, exploding into a blues-rock crescendo, then softening again. Gales notes, “Me and Buddy did our parts at separate times, but it seems like we’re in the same room,” a testament to the seamless production that blew my mind when I saw him live.
Emotional Depth and Modern Flair
Each track, save one, is a cover of Manuel’s originals, reinterpreted with Gales’ modern flair. “Something Inside of Me” and “Worried Man” carry a haunting melancholy, while “Baby Baby” and “Blues Been Good To Me” inject infectious rhythms. The spoken-word intro by Danuel Gales ties it all together, making the album a living memorial. Gales admits, “I foresaw a great record, but I didn’t foresee it turning out as amazing as this,” and his brother’s presence resonates throughout, a storytelling prowess I witnessed firsthand. This flawless execution earns its perfect score.
Gales’ journey—from a 16-year-old Elektra debutant to a Grammy-nominated artist with hits like Crown and Sinners—culminates here. This album not only honors Manuel but also reaffirms Gales’ status as a genre titan, blending legacy with innovation that left me in awe live. A 10/10 masterpiece—buy it, and you won’t regret it.
Eric Gales Online
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
Track Listing
1. You Shouldn’t Have Left Me
2. Rockin’ Horse Rise ft. Christone “Kingsfish” Ingram
3. Guitar Man
4. Don’t Wanna Go Home ft. Joe Bonamassa
5. Something Inside of Me
6. Baby Baby
7. It Takes A Whole Lotta Money ft. Joe Bonamassa & Josh Smith
8, Worried Man
9. Blues Been Good To Me
10. Somebody (feat. Buddy Guy and Roosevelt Collier)
READ MORE….
Eric Gales – A Tribute to LJK Album Review | A Soulful Homage to Little Jimmy King (10/10) @RockNews
