Pete Mayes was 60 when the singer/guitarist recorded For Pete's Sake, a solid effort that posed the question: "As good as this guy is, why haven't more people heard of him?" The answer is that while
Mayes had been highly regarded in Texas blues circles, he didn't record very many albums over the years. Released by the Austin-based Antone's label, For Pete's Sake enjoyed wider distribution than any of the three albums he had put out himself. A varied and engaging effort, this CD ranges from uptempo
T-Bone Walker-ish blues shuffles like "House Party," "Pony Tail" and "Alimony Blues" to the
Percy Mayfield-influenced, early-1950s-type R&B ballad "You're Still My Baby." Meanwhile, lovers of 1960s Southern soul should appreciate the congenial "I Like Your Style." This is a strong album that was long overdue. ~ Alex Henderson