In the recording studio and on stage, Cray can often alternate between mere water-treading and inspired, magical statements. Fortunately, "Shoulda Been Home" represents one of the latter. It's Cray's second album for the Rykodisc label, with Steve Jordan once again in the producer's chair. He must claim a chunk of the credit for this disc's slow'n'slinky, deep-rooted ambience, leaving space between the players and coaxing out a luscious reverb. Cray's rhythm parts are given a speaker apiece, stinging and chopping in the far corners of the mix, while his sparkling solos hog centre-stage. Cray's amp sound often comes close to the ghostly vibrato-tones of Georgia's Robert Ward. Meanwhile, Karl Sevareid pours out the chocolaty basslines and an all-star horn section tips in on the up-tempo numbers. Each tune seems to ooze its sweet juices into the next. Cray rarely plays pure blues any more (though this album does contain a pair of tunes from the Elmore James set-list), being for many years now a prime upholder of the soul-infused mood-spreader. Cray (or his regular band) have written most of the songs here and lyrically he seems less tortured by love's trials on this outing, his honeyed vocals not so angst-ridden. Just listen to "Anytime", its capsule guitar solo not wasting an instant and Jim Pugh's purring organ riding underneath. Or the up-tempo, slapping beat and horn cuts of "Love Sickness". The whole session has that live-in-the-studio sound, just like an old Stax platter. Speaking of sick love, Pugh has almost taken on Cray's fraught lyrical mantle, his lengthy "Out Of Eden" allowing the leader to let rip liberally between each moaning verse.