Walk – Mona Johansson  

Mona Johansson’s album “Walk” was released 1 December, 2017. It’s a collection of songs taken from the American blues and soul treasure. Mona has produced the album together with the guitarist Christer Lyssarides. In the collaboration between Mona’s expressive voice and Christer’s sensitive guitar playing, they create their own way of interpreting roots and blues.

Contributing to the sound is Mona Johansson, vocals and acoustic guitar, Christer Lyssarides, guitars and pedal steel, Björn Gideonsson, drums, Ralph Youngblood, bass, and Allen Finney, harmonica, vocals. Allen Finney is also songwriter to one of the tracks, “Take a little walk”. More detailed information about each track further down. 

Design by Mona Johansson
Photo by Michael Wall
Label MoJo Music, Sweden

“En fin platta från Mona Johansson och hennes medmusiker. Jag är van vid att höra ett ”råare” femtiotalssound från Real Music Studio, men här är soundet mjukare, modernare, utan att tappa äktheten. Jag gillar det konsekventa helhetssoundet i dessa inspelningar, vare sig det rör sig om gammalt material som Son House ”Death letter blues” eller ”modernare” som ”Breakin’ up somebody’s home” eller Dylans ”Tonight I’ll be staying here with you”. Mona har en säker röst, inte överdramatiserad men som berör. Musiken sveper in rösten i ett nordiskt ljus, som en dimma över fuktiga marker. Christer Lyssarides tillbakahållna men precisa gitarr och pedal steel är utsökt, liksom Björn Gideonsson på trummor och Ralph Youngbloods bas. Allen Finney gästspelar på munspel. Här finns ett nyfiket nyskapande, utan att göra våld på traditionen.” Olle Wallin, Jefferson Blues Magazine, Sweden (March 2018)

“I loved Mona Johansson’s new album “Walk”!  Mona’s vulnerable, yet soulful voice, paired with Chris Lyssarides mood-setting and laid-back guitar playing smokes of down-and-out desperation. The album is well produced and has the feel of a close-up performance in a smoky blues club.” – Hans Adamson, Art Vista Productions, Los Angeles (December 2017)

1. Death Letter Blues (Son House) (4:34)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – electric guitar, pedal steel
Björn Gideonsson – drums

2. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City (Price/Walsh) (4:06)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – electric guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums

3. Help Me Through The Day (Leon Russel) (4:58)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – resolectric National guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums

4. 32-20 Blues (Robert Johnson) (3:10)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – resolectric National guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums

5. You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover (Willie Dixon) (3:18)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – resolectric National guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – trummor
Allen Finney – harmonica

6. Take a Little Walk (Allen Finney) (5:15)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – resolectric National guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums, percussion
Allen Finney – backing vocal

7. Breakin’ Up Somebody’s Home (Jackson/Matthews) (4:34)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – electric guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums

8. Steamy Windows (Tony Joe White) (4:11)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – electric slide guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums
Allen Finney – harmonica

9. Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You (Bob Dylan) (4:43)
Mona Johansson – vocals, acoustic guitar
Christer Lyssarides – electric guitar
Ralph Youngblood – electric bass guitar
Björn Gideonsson – drums, percussion