R.L. Burnside: Well...Well...Well (MC Records)

 There's certainly been no shortage of R.L. Burnside material in the last few years. Well...Well...Well is a very good addition to Burnside's legacy featuring over an hour's worth of live and intimate recordings taped between 1986 and 1993.

 While Burnside's recent outings for Fat Possum have mixed his delta blues with hip-hop and techno music, Well...Well...Well is undiluted delta blues. The songs on this collection were taped by Jon Morris who played harmonica with Burnside and were recorded in locales as diverse as Holland, Greece, South Carolina and New Orleans. The overall feel is loose and intimate and the music cuts right to the bone.

 The music is filled with hypnotic guitar runs and moaning vocals and exudes that raw, eerie world that only the best delta blues players can conjure. Burnside plays as a duo with Jon Morris on a number of cuts, two cuts are with drummer Calvin Jackson and a batch of songs find Burnside in a solo setting. The solo tracks are some of the best including a moving version of Little Water's "Last Night", a tough version of Muddy Waters' "Can't Be Satisfied" and a humorous and chilling retelling of "Staggolee" that I guarantee you've never heard told quite this way. Other powerful moments include a stark version of Howlin' Wolf's "How Many More Years", "Forty Four Pistol", an ominous sounding version of "My Babe" and the shuffling "Mellow Peaches" featuring drummer Calvin Jackson.

 Well...Well...Well makes for compelling listening as Burnside draws you in with his honest, brooding blues. Overall a wonderfully intimate outing that makes you feel like your hanging out on the porch with a bunch of old friends.

(Jeff Harris)

Otis Taylor: White African (NorthernBlues Music)

 Otis Taylor is a new name to me although he's been playing the blues since the 60's with varying degrees of success. White African, his third full length record, is a beautiful and haunting set of original acoustic blues that if there's any justice should bring Taylor wide acclaim.

 Taylor formed his first blues band back in 1964 and continued to perform through the 60's and 70's before retiring from music in 1977. After a two decade lay off he returned to music recording Blue Eyed Monster and the critically acclaimed When Negros Walked The Earth in 1997. Taylor's latest record is on the newly formed NorthernBlues label and hopefully they can give this record the push that it deserves.

 The music on White African is acoustic blues with Taylor playing guitar, banjo, harmonica and mandolin. He's backed by sympathetic band including a bass player, second guitarist and some background vocals. The music is sparse, direct and beautifully played as Taylor delivers a set of original songs dealing with lynching, murder and homelessness. The songs have that eerie, other world quality that you find on the old Library of Congress field recordings of the 20's and 30's. "My Soul's In Louisiana" is a tale about a black man accused of murder in Louisiana delivered over gently strumming guitar while "3 Days And 3 Nights" begins with the sound of a baby crying as Taylor recites a heartbreaking tale of a homeless man trying to get help for his sick daughter while "Hungry People" is a meditative look at starvation. "Saint Martha's Blues" is perhaps the record's most harrowing song based on the true account of his great-grandfather's lynching and described in unflinching detail. Songs like the the banjo propelled "Momma Don't You Do It", the driving harmonica "Round And Round" and "Ain't No Cowgirl" provide a nice upbeat balance to the more intense songs.

 Otis Taylor shows how powerful the blues form can really be when in the hands of a master. I suspect White African will be on many top ten lists when the year's out and probably mine as well.

(Jeff Harris)

 For Your Precious Love reissues Toney's 1967 Bell LP of the same name plus nine additional songs cut during the same period. This without a doubt ranks as some of the finest deep soul of the era. The session was produced by Papa Don Schroeder who also produced fine sides for James and Bobby Purify and Mighty Sam McClain. Schroeder took Toney to legendary producer Chips Moman in Memphis, TN and hit the first time out with a rendition of Jerry Butler & the Impressions' "For Your Precious Love" hitting #4 on the R&B charts and #23 on the Pop charts. Toney was unable follow up on this success but continued to cut some first material. Those who only know Toney for that one song are in for a real revelation

 Toney is at his best on the ballads although there's a number of fine rocker's on this set. Of the ballads highlights go to Jerry Butler's "He Will Break Your Heart", a moving cover of James Carr's "The Dark End Of The Street" and the intense "Unlucky Guy" and "A Love That Never Grows Old" written by Toney himself. He's equally at home on more upbeat material like the pumping "Down In Texas", a stomping cover of Bobby Bland's "Turn On Your Love Light" and the original "No Sad Songs." A bonus for collectors is the addition of two previously unreleased tracks. In usual Sundazed fashion all the little details are in place including a fine essay by Bill Dahl, nice period photos and immaculate sound.

 For Your Precious Love is an absolute must for all fans of deep southern soul. Some additional good news is that Toney has recently revived his singing career and has just completed his first new record in nearly a quarter century.

(Jeff Harris)