Alan Arena - Deceived (2025) [Official Digital Download]

Singer and guitarist Alan Arena brings a deep set of blues rockers together on this latest release. The team of Paul Nelson/g, Brad Hallen/b, Marty Richards/dr, Brooks Milgate/p-org and Stephens Clements/perc bring in some cameo guests for some clever originals. Arena comes off as a storyteller here, spinning yards as the fun “Big Black Cat”, the autobiographic “Raised On Radio” and the Memphis swamp of “Devil In The Bottle”, all backed by some hip riffs. He glides over a Latin pulse on “Deceived” and wails along Jerry Portnoy’s heavy harp on Memphis Slim’s “Mother Earth”, while searing over Richards’ snappy sticks on “Hypnotized”.

"Full of organ swirls, honky-tonk piano, and thumpin’ bass notes, on “Speed of Life” Arena chimes “my life is turned upside down and there is no place to turn around…things just got out of hand, as things don’t always go as planned…I’m traveling at the speed of life”. “Hypnotized” with “Sax” Gordon Beadle, “I been on the road for a lot of time, but when I saw you’ve been hypnotized… I just want to shine one moment at a time but since I met you I’ve been hypnotized”. “Believe In Yourself (Radio Edit)”, reprises this song with some great piano from Milgate. On the closer, with “Sax” Gordon and percussionist Clements, “Deceived” is also reprised but performed as an instrumental.“Deceived” should garner Arena a lot of attention. The album is dedicated to “Hugs For Lizbeth”, and the caregivers. Arena also reminds us of Paul Nelson who not only played with Johnny Winter but also opened for many artists at The Music Room in Cape Cod, including Kim Wilson, Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, Shemekia Copeland, Bernard Allison, and others. Now Arena honors the legacy of Paul Nelson." (Richard Ludmerer, makingascene.org)

TRACKLIST

1. Alan Arena - Raised on Radio
2. Alan Arena - Believe in Yourself
3. Alan Arena - Deceived
4. Alan Arena - Big Black Cat
5. Alan Arena - Devil in the Bottle
6. Alan Arena - Mother Earth
7. Alan Arena - Speed of Life
8. Alan Arena - Hypnotized
9. Alan Arena - Believe in Yourself (Radio Edit)
10. Alan Arena - Deceived (Instrumental)



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