Eclectic? All over the map? The material on All You Gotta Do, The Nighthawks’ latest release, can certainly be described in these terms. Yet, throughout the nearly five decades of its career, the band has sourced songs from everywhere and anywhere.

The prototype recording, Rock and Roll, although it had no originals, established this template in 1974. Three years later, Sidepocket Shot, showed the band capable of nearly all original material and spanning an even wider range of genres, this time in an array of production styles a la the Beatles' Revolver. All You Gotta Do does not have any outside players, only the band itself, with a minimum of overdubs. Yet the band still sounds like a hard Chicago Blues band from the mid-1950s, adding the vocal harmonies that Miss Honey Piazza once dubbed “the Doo Wop Blues.”

The Nighthawks struggle to keep their music alive after four decades in the unforgiving music business. Hopeless record deals, weary days on the road, and conflict among the four members threaten to bury the band. But The Nighthawks press on, carrying the torch of the blues into the 21st century.

Nighthawks on the Blue Highway (2016) is the first documentary film about the hardest working band in America, the result of two years of production, countless days on the road with the band and interviews with those who know the members and their music best. Directed by Johnny Cash biographer Michael Streissguth, the film stars George Thorogood, John Hammond, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, and Mark Wenner.

This, the most recent rendition of the band, features Mark Wenner on harmonica, Paul Bell on guitar, Johnny Castle on bass and Mark Stutso on drums. Vocal responsibilities fall on the entire band. Each member brings their own unique talents to the table, and all of their strong points are hit upon and properly put to use. During at least one of my conversations with Mark Wenner, he made it a point to say that he will take a good song wherever he finds it, whether it be blues, country, soul, R&B, jazz, gospel, pop, rock, or whatever else. You can call their music, blues, soul, roots music...or, as Sonny Boy Williamson said: "You can call it your Mama if you want to." With a sound that spans all genres while still somehow sounding like a Chicago blues band is so many respects, the Nighthawks have remained one of the top-rated bands in the U.S. and beyond. One of the things I love about the Nighthawks is that what you see is what you get.

All You Gotta Do features the Nighthawks and only the Nighthawks...no heavy hitting "special guests", and very few overdubs. From classic blues covers of Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters (written by Willie Dixon) and R.L. Burnside to Brenda Lee, Jesse Winchester, Randy Newman and some incredible originals, this disc is over 40 minutes of pure pleasure. The band had their share of incredibly good and bad moments since their foundation over 40 years ago. This is a definite highlight. Just when I thought the band had reached its peak, they pull off something like this. Like a good bourbon or a fine wine, the Nighthawks are getting better with age. This one is highly recommended. It's one disc that will definitely be played repeatedly. You might want to get more than one copy of this one.