On Rocked Enough he teams with Francine Reed (Lyle Lovett's backup singer and an excellent blues musician on her own) to sing I Used to Worry. Those of us of a certain age have to appreciate the irony of these lyrics. Bonnie Raitt guests on two of the songs Good Man, Good woman which received some radio air play and playing slide on Everytime I Roll the Dice. Melissa Etheridge and Tom Petty both make guest appearances as background vocalists.

Delbert falls somewhere in the blues, country, rock genre. Its hard to pin him down exactly, but easy to know a Delbert song when you hear it. Fans of delta and Chicago blues may not appreciate his style.

21 of 21 found the following review helpful:


Rockin' Bluesman  Aug 10, 2002 By Mel Odom
Delbert McClinton's NEVER BEEN ROCKED ENOUGH was a 1992 release, but the album is one that keeps on giving. If the listener wants a quick pick-me-up jumping beat, the CD delivers that. And if the listener wants a soul-stirring wonder-of-life-and-love moment, Delbert delivers that as well. NEVER BEEN ROCKED ENOUGH is a great introduction to Delbert's music for a first time listener. Delbert is a bluesman with a foot in the past and an eye on the future. As a result, his brand of music is timeless.

Born in Lubbock, Texas, Delbert never has tried to stray far from his blues and Western swing roots. He cut his teeth working roadhouses in Texas along the Jacksboro Highway, quietly lining up work as a sideman on other artists' albums. His first CD, VICTIM OF LIFE'S CIRCUMSTANCES, set the tone for much of his music. Several CDs have followed, including ONE OF THE FORTUNATE FEW, LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL, HONKY TONK `N BLUES, THE JEALOUS KIND, and 2001's Grammy Award-winning NOTHING PERSONAL.

In NEVER BEEN ROCKED ENOUGH, Delbert kicks off the CD with "Everytime I Roll The Dice", a slow grooving toe-tapper that became a Top Ten hit. "I Used To Worry" is a blues testimonial to the inevitability of the world delivered with a sarcastic wink. In "Miss You Fever", Delbert reaches into his vocals bag to hand out a tune in a hoarse and hurting voice echoing with the haunting feeling of sitting on a barstool far too long hurting the way everyone who has loved and lost hurts. Delbert wrote "Why Me?" and the background vocals are by Tom Petty, and the song kicks up the CD's overall tempo, hooking the listener solidly and reeling him or her in. "Have A Little Faith In Me" brings the listener back to earth, chaining him or her to the softer emotions, and Delbert's harmonica work underscores the hope the words offer. Then Delbert kicks the doors open and delivers "Never Been Rocked Enough", a tune that he wrote and that drives directly to the fun-loving rocker that co-exists with this bluesman extraordinaire. "Blues As Blues Can Get" is a soft and easy blues talker that speaks of pain and loneliness. Moving back into an up-tempo beat, Delbert delivers "Can I Change My Mind" but stays with the insecurity and pain of relationships. Sounding a bit like a gospel song, written by Delbert, "Cease and Desist" is a sexy and fun romp. "Stir It Up" is a cover of a Bob Marley song, and Delbert dishes a soulful sound that warms the heart and inspires hope. Singing with blues sensation Bonnie Raitt, Delbert blasts out "Good Man, Good Woman", which earned both singers a Grammy Award, and ends the CD with a solid blues feel and Delbert's haunting harmonica work.

NEVER BEEN ROCKED ENOUGH is a great addition to any Delbert McClinton sound library lacking this CD. For the blues enthusiast, the CD is also a definite keeper. Fans of Bonnie Raitt's work will definitely want to check out Delbert McClinton because they've both got the same long past deeply enmeshed in the blues scene and constant flirtation with the crossover pop crowd.

8 of 8 found the following review helpful:


Delbert McClinton Scores Another Winner  Nov 07, 2002 By peter krampert
Delbert McClinton is a Texas singer-songwriter and harmonica player who has been making great music since the late 1950's. He made his first big public splash playing harmonica on Bruce Chanel's "Hey baby" and legend has it that he taught John Lennon some of the rudiments of Blues harmonica playing. His songs have been covered by dozens of other recording srtists and has had a career that has spanned decades and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.

"Never Been Rocked Enough" is an absolutely solid album by an absolutely solid performer. Delbert's back-up musicians are as tight as you can expect. The songwriting is a s strong as always and Delbert's singing is absolutely a joy to listen to. As always, his harmonica playing shows the years he's spent perfecting his craft.

This is a very nice effort by a great artist. I definitely recommend it.

15 of 18 found the following review helpful:


Give this man his due...  May 16, 2001 By David Kinney
I will never understand how this great Texas R & B master can languish in near obscurity while a certain balding mullet headed white "soul" singer of very modest abilities reaps the rewards of ripping off the blues. Oh well, Delbert sings about not worrying about things like that, so I guess I won't either. This CD is a booty beater right from lift off. The rockers here propelled by Bonnie Raitt's wicked slide guitar and Delberts superb singing and harp playing. Dig his version of Tyrone Davis' '60's soul hit "Can I Change My Mind?". Delbert's serving notice here on all the the imposters, "this is how to sing soul music, ya'll. Fans of Blues, Country, Soul, and rocknroll, this man can do it all with the grace and power available only to a few. Get as much Delbert as you can find because you havn't been rocked enough.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:


I Listen to it over and over and never get bored.  Jul 21, 2004 By George Elvis "George Elvis"
The only luke warm review on this album says it wasn't enough straight up blues. Gee, Delbert showed some versitility. My how awful!

Well, this album is straight up good. The pacing from one song to another is excellent.

How refreshing to listen to an album all the way through without getting bored. It's a winner. If you like your blues with a little downhome twist, you'll love this album. Missed my one opportunity to see him here in Nashville this year, and boy do I regret it.

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