About Us

Listen to Bad Dog Bluesspeaker1.gif (246 bytes)

playlist.gif (4121 bytes)

Newsnewspaper.gif (1048 bytes)

Essential Blues

Special Features

Talk to Us!email.gif (945 bytes)

links.GIF (4139 bytes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

witr_logo.gif (4671 bytes)

Reviews thumb.gif (991 bytes)

witrcover1.gif (27878 bytes)

cd.gif (1045 bytes)CD Review   book.gif (1110 bytes) Book Review

Page 2 of 2 of Reviews Section

  Every month Bad Dog Blues takes a look at the best new blues releases and offers our opinions, criticism and general ramblings. We'll also take a look at noteworthy reissues and blues related books. If you happen to disagree, fine, drop us an e-mail and we'll file it appropriately. Now on to this months reviews:

"And we played it on the sofa, and we played it side the wall   
And we played it on the sofa, and we played it side the wall    
But boys, my needles have got rusty, and it will not play at all"               
(Robert Johnson, Phonograph Blues)

Sacred Steel- Live! (Arhoolie)  

 The music on Sacred Steel- Live! is unlike any gospel music you've ever  heard. The musicians on this disc are all affiliated with the House of God, Keith Dominion a Pentecostal Church sect that takes it's inspiration from Psalm 150:4 which says "...praise him with stringed instruments...." The stringed instruments they use are electric lap and pedal steel guitars that carry the praising of the Lord to unimagined heights of celebration. There's a reason they call  this  "joy music!"

  This type of gospel music has been around since the 30's but it's only in the past couple of years has it become known outside of the church. Arhoolie Records was the company who first documented the music and the joy this music brings seems to be contagious converting fans all over the world who never stepped into a church. Part of the reason is that while the music is certainly gospel the overall sound has very close affinities to slide guitar blues.

  Willie Eason, who plays on two cuts backed by the Campbell Brothers, is 78 years old and was one of the first to bring the electric steel guitar to House of God services. His voice like single string guitar style was highly influential and he's considered a living legend among the congregations. His instrumental version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" is a beautiful reworking of the classic while his "Take Your Burden to the Lord" showcases his rough but impassioned vocals.

 The Campbell Brothers make up the bulk of these recordings and are the newest generation to continue the sacred steel tradition. When this family gets together they literally shake the rafters. Chuck Campbell is the oldest brother and plays pedal steel guitar. His extroverted, boogie style is heard on the wildly over the top and aptly titled "Sit Down if You Can." Phil Campbell is one of the great lead guitarists of the genre sounding like a gospel B.B. King with his searing single string playing. Phil stretches out on the lowdown, bluesy "Don't Let the Devil Ride." Darick Campbell, the youngest brother, plays lap steel so expressive it seems like it's alive. Rounding out the group is 14 year old Carlton on drums. The Campbell's are helped out by the dynamite singing of Katie Jackson and Denise Brown.

  Calvin Cooke has been playing the lap steel for the House of God for 40 years and is one of it's most revered musicians. His lone track "No Ways Tired" focuses on his inspired singing ending with a beautiful solo. Ted Beard is another veteran steel player and absolutely burns on a raucous version of "The Train."

  After six decades it's good news for everyone that this vibrant and inspirational music is now being heard outside of the church. If you get the opportunity catch the music live it's an experience you'll never forget- trust me!

(Jeff Harris)                        

 

Bob Corritore: All-Star Blues Sessions (HMG)

  First things first- this is an absolutely killer blues compilation! With great performances by Lil' Ed, Bo Diddley, Jimmy Rogers, Henry Gray and R.L. Burnside among others this is an excellent and diverse collection of first rate blues. that lives up to it's all-star billing.

 Now you may be asking yourself who is Bob Corritore (I know I did). Corritore is a blues renaissance man: a fine harmonica player, producer, radio show host, record label owner and talent scout for Arizona's The Rhythm Room. It was while working at the club that he began to bring some of the artists to record afterwards and the wonderful results can now be heard by all.

  Among many highlights are the three cuts by former Howling Wolf pianist Henry Gray. Gray's rolling piano and rich, expressive vocals lend authority to Wolf's "How Many More Years" and the rocking blues of  "Everbody's Fishin'" with tasteful guitar by Bob Margolin. Chico Chism is another alumni of Wolf's band who plays drums and sings on two tracks including a great reading of "Five Long Years" supported by Pinetop Perkins on piano.   

  Louisiana guitarist Clarence Edwards is the only other artist to get more than one cut and his raw brand of swamp blues particularly on "Hear That Rumblin'" harks back to the old Excello sound . 

  Of the more well known artists Lil' Ed lays down a rough and tumble version of J.B. Hutto's "Hip Shakin'" with some fine harmonica from Mr. Corritore. Jimmy Rogers is in fine form on the somber "Out on the Road." Robert Lockwood delivers a swinging, jazzy "Naptown Blues" with some dazzling guitar playing. R.L. Burnside's "Going Down South" is a mesmerizing Mississippi  blues that's certainly the deepest of the bunch. Veteran shouter Nappy Brown closes the set with the beautiful slow burner "Nappy's Driftin' Blues" with sympathetic support by Kid Ramos on guitar. 

  This is one of the few compilations that sizzles from start to finish and fully lives up to it's all-star title. The liner notes hint that there are are more gems in the vault and I'm already eager for a second helping.

(Jeff Harris)

 

 The Best of Gene Norman's Blues Jubilees
(GNP/Crescendo)        

  I've always wished I could go back in time to catch some of  the great blues performers in person. Buying The Best of Gene Norman's Blues Jubilees goes a long way toward fulfilling that fantasy. The four singers caught here were recorded live between 1949 and 1955 and Gene Norman's legendary Blues Jubilees which presented the best blues and jazz artist of the day. Dinah Washington, Jimmy Witherspoon, Helen Humes and Joe Turner are in magnificent form and in the prime of their careers playing to very enthusiastic and vocal audiences.

  Dinah Washington is introduced as "the queen of the jukeboxes" and was indeed riding high with 16 songs on the R&B charts between 1949 and 1954. Washington rips into a pair of fast paced blues on "Cool Kind Papa" and "Fast Movin' Mama" to a very receptive crowd. Equally adept at ballads she soars on the gospel soaked "It Ain't Fair" and the lowdown "Baby, Get Lost."

  When Jimmy Witherspoon strides on stage and announces he's going to do one of his latest tunes, "Ain't Nobody's Business", it's enough to give you goose bumps. Witherspoon's classy vocals are impeccable even when during the first minute someone yells out "that's what you call true love!", Witherspoon never loses his cool. Witherspoon precedes to rock the blues backed with fine alto sax by Donald Hill on "Big Fine Girl" and "I Gotta Gal."

  Helen Humes could shout the blues with the best of them no doubt learning a thing or two from her three year stint with Count Basie's Orchestra. Humes starts off with wonderful, bawdy "Million Dollar Secret" and the crowd responds wildly when tells them "I've got a man he's 78 and I'm just 23, everybody thinks I'm crazy but his will is made out to me!" "I'm Gonna Let Him Ride" is another risqué rocking blue featuring some great piano by Camille Howard.

  The disc wraps up the with Big Joe Turner one of the blues greatest shouters. Turner had an amazing career that spanned from the 30's through the 80's. In 1955, the time of these recordings, Turner was a rock and roll pioneer with hits like "Flip, Flop and Fly", which opens this set, and "Shake Rattle and Roll." Big Joe's pipes are tremendous particularly on the beautiful "Three O'Clock in the Morning" (Chains of Love). 

  Short of going back in time this set shows a fantastic glimpse of four great blues singers in their prime. The excellent sound quality makes this set the next best thing to being there.

(Jeff Harris)