I love, love, love everything that Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps has put out in recent years. So imagine my joy when I opened a package from my mailbox, and this album was in it!

Bad At Being Good (MoMojo Records) contains a dozen songs, 11 written and/or co-written by James and partner Terry Wilson.

A host of session regulars provide the backing, most notably Terry Wilson (bass), Billy Watts (lead guitar), Tony Braunagel (drums), Richard Millsap (percussion), the always outstanding Kevin McKendree (keyboards), and the horn section of Darrell Leonard (trumpet) and Paulie Cera (sax). Pianist extraordinaire Jon Cleary makes one appearance on the title cut.

Kicking off this very fine album is the up-tempo jumper, "Love's A Full Time Job," with the horns providing the big sound. The tempo slows on the blues number, "Is Anything Alright," with James' voice soaring as she laments the current state of affairs. Bennett Salvay appears with tasty piano work.

"I Got This Thing" shows off Watts' skill on guitar, especially during the intro, and the band is tight with all parts coming together nicely. James complains about someone's greed and love for way too mjch money on the mid-tempo blues, "All About The Benjamins," singing, "...they say money can't buy happiness, he sure laughs a lot." But he gets his at the end when James tells us that the tax man eventually caught up with our greedy villain.

James has blocked a certain man from the past because he didn't make nice with her on "Trouble In Paradise," with guitarist Dean Parks making the most of his lone appearance with a tasteful solo. She's got a better man on the mid-tempo bluesy love song, "Angel On My Shoulder," telling about that special someone who is always watching out for her.

Mr. Salvay is back for his second appearance on the slow soul number, "Treat Her Like You Want Her To Treat You," with gospel-style piano work that perfectly fits this song. It's one of my favorite numbers here, but then I can say the same about the mid-tempo soul tune, "Say What You Will," with big horn sounds and stinging guitar work from Watts. McKendree shines on piano, but it's really the power in James' voice that puts this one at the top of the list.

The title cut is highlighted by Wilson's slide guitar work and Cleary's piano accompaniment. James packs plenty of energy into her vocals as she tells us that she's bad at being good. It's a different mood on the rollicking up-tempo "We Came To Rock," with this one giving James a chance to show off on piano while Watts tears it up on guitar and the horns contribute to the energy and volume.

"Anytime Is Alright" provides a different kind of sound with Wilson's effects-heavy guitar work and the use of David P. Jackson's accordion and Jay Bellerose's rhythmic drumming.

Finishing the album is a Gary Nicholson composition, the mid-tempo blues shuffle "Close Down The Blues Bar," the tale of a woman begging for the blues bar to be shut down so that her man can come home. She sings, "...The songs they're singing are the story of his life ..." and "...he now sings while he talks and shuffles when he walks...." Watts gets the opportunity to shine with another set of red hot blues guitar solos.

Bad At Being Good is another outstanding by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps. It's still too early for me to start formulating a top ten list for the 2026 blues season, but I can't imagine that this album won't be there.

--- Bill Mitchell