|
Listen to the Music
You need real audio
to listen to these clips. Download it free by clicking on the icon.
|
|
The Blasters
Live: Going Home (Shout! Factory) 
The
Blasters made a case for good old roots rock
and roll from the very beginning when the
aptly titled "American Music" hit
the shelves back in 1980. Nearly 25 years
down the road The Blasters good rocking fusion
of blues, country and rock sound as good as
ever as documented on both CD and DVD as "The
Blasters Live: Going Home."
In
2002, the Blasters reunited to play a few
shows to celebrate the release of a retrospective
compilation on Slash Records. This was the
original lineup - vocalist and guitarist Phil
Alvin, guitarist Dave Alvin, drummer Bill
Bateman, bassist John Bazz plus the great
piano man Gene Taylor who joined the band
a bit later. A year later they were still
playing gigs when Dave Alvin decided to pull
the plug in August of 2003. They did the final
show up right with a special gig in Santa
Ana, CA, that paid homage to their roots with
guest spots by Chicago blues harp master Billy
Boy Arnold, rockabilly legend Sonny Burgess,
and members of two classic L.A.
doo-wop groups, the Calvanes and the Medallions.
What a great way to go out and it's all documented
on this knockout DVD.
The Blasters rock gloriously through
the nineteen tunes which are interspersed
with interviews by band members, vintage photos
of the group and commentary by all the guest
stars. All the classics are here including
the opener "Marie, Marie", "Red
Rose", "Trouble Bound" and
anthems like "Border Radio" and
a storming jam on "American Music."
"So Long Baby, Goodbye" is dedicated
to legendary sax man Lee Allen, an original
member, who passed away in 1994 and thankfully
we get to seen Allen in action in a bonus
cut of this same song from a 1982 concert.
Among the other highlights are Gene Taylor
taking the vocals on "Don't Lie To Me",
"Help You Dream", "Have Mercy
Baby" and "One Bad Stud" featuring
the wonderful harmonies of the Calvanes and
Medallions, Sonny Burgess rocking magnificently
on his stomping Sun records classic "Red
Headed Woman" and dueting with Phil on
"Sadie's Back In Town", and Billy
Boy Arnold who cuts loose on "Wandering
Eye" and his all time classic "I
Ain't Got You." An added plus are some
excellent bonus features including four songs
from early 80's concerts, two from a 2003
concert and interviews with all the band members
and guest artists.
All
in all a first class job and a thoroughly
entertaining document of one of the great
American roots bands. Although this is billed
as the last Blasters reunion these guys are
having way too much fun to hang it up forever
and Phil Alvin slyly hints that there's almost
sure to be another one. Good news indeed!
(Jeff
Harris)
|
The Roots Of Robert
Johnson (Yazoo)
The Truman And
Eisenhower Blues (Agram)
2004
is starting out to be a good year for scholarly
blues books and so far two of the year's most interesting
are Elijah Wald's revisionist blues history "Escaping
the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the
Blues" and Guido van Rijn's "The Truman
and Eisenhower Blues". Both have been reviewed
in these pages and now we take a look at the excellent
companion CDs that accompanied those books.
"Back
to the Crossroads: The Roots of Robert Johnson"
is an expanded and revised version of "The
Roots of Robert Johnson" which came out in
1990 just when Columbia's Johnson box set hit the
streets. The premise of the record is essentially
the same, which is to trace the roots of Robert
Johnson, those artists who came before Johnson and
who directly or indirectly shaped his style. Johnson
was one of the first artists to learn more from
records than live performances and this collection
assembles those sources showing how he borrowed,
adapted, synthesized and directly responded to the
music of those who came before him. The 23 tracks
are a who's who of great country blues including
extraordinary slide guitarist Kokomo Arnold an inspiration
for Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago" and
"I'll Believe I'll Dust My Broom", Leroy
Carr whose urbane "When The Sun Goes Down"
was the source of "Love In Vain", the
popular Peetie Wheatstraw whose "Police Station
Blues" is reworked by Johnson into "Terraplane
Blues" and "Hellhound On My Trail"
and Lonnie Johnson, one of the era's most influential
guitarists, whose "Life Saver Blues" guitar
arrangement was lifted nearly note for note in Johnson's
"Malted Milk" and "Drunken Hearted
Man." Other artists include delta greats Son
House who Johnson learned directly from, Skip James,
Charlie Patton plus more wide ranging sources like
Rev. E.W. Clayborn, Mississippi Jook Band and the
Harlem Hamfats. None of this detracts from Johnson's
genius rather it illuminates the fertile tradition
he drew from and hopefully will cause the more casual
listener to discover a whole world of blues talent
that existed before Johnson ever recorded a note.
As usual Yazoo offers excellent sound quality and
illuminating notes by author Elijah Wald.
"The
Truman And Eisenhower Blues" is a wonderful
companion to the book of the same name which through
insightful analysis of blues and gospel lyrics examines
how African Americans experienced events during
the Truman and Eisenhower presidencies. The book
is a sequel the critically acclaimed "Roosevelt's
Blues" which also had a fine companion CD.
All these songs are discussed in detail in the book
and provide a soundtrack of African American concerns
during this period. The 26 blues and gospel songs,
many very rare, deal with important issues of the
day like civil rights in songs such as Josh White's
outspoken "Free and Equal Blues", the
Gospel Pilgrims' "I'm So Grateful to the N.A.A.C.P.",
the downright revolutionary tone of J.B. Lenoir's
"Eisenhower Blues" and Brother Will Hairston's
remarkable "The Alabama Bus, Parts 1 &
2" a response to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Other songs deal with inflation, unemployment, the
atom bomb, the space age and Korea as in Smokey
Hogg's "High Priced Meat", Jack McVea's
"Inflation Blues", the Golden Gate Quartet's
"Atom and Evil", the Pilgrim Travelers
influential "Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb",
Sister Rosetta Tharpe's joyous "There's Peace
In Korea" cut the very day of the armistice
and Chris Kenner's "Rocket To The Moon."
The CD includes a wonderful booklet detailing each
track, color label shots and vintage photos.
Both
"Escaping the Delta" and "The Truman
and Eisenhower Blues" are deeply researched
and thoughtful blues histories that come highly
recommended. The same can be said for both these
marvelous companion CD's which give an added dimension
to the books and can be purchased separately. Both
are well worth investigating even if you don't purchase
the books.
-Check
out these related reviews:
The
Truman Eisenhower Blues
(Jeff
Harris)
|
Travis
"Moonchild" Haddix: Blues From Staghorn
Street
(Wann-Sonn)
Travis
Haddix is not exactly a household name even
among blues fans but this veteran bluesman
has been releasing some phenomenal records
the past few years. In fact his last two records
have both made my top ten list for best records
of the year and "Blues From Staghorn
Street" is surly an early contender to
make my 2004 list.
Haddix
may be best known for his half dozen or so
solid records for the Ichiban label in the
late 80's and early 90's released, by the
way, while he continued to hold down a job
as a postal worker in Ohio. In more recent
years he's been cutting records for his own
Wann-Sonn label and perhaps because he lacks
the distribution of a larger company his records
have slipped under the radar. Both 2002's
"Milk & Bread" and 2003's "Company
Is Coming" were easy picks for top records
of the year. "Blues
From Staghorn Street" is yet
another incredibly tough, gritty blues record
laced with plenty of soul marking him as one
of the best on the scene in my book.
Haddix
has his own sound but in the past I've compared
him to the bluesier end of the soul-blues
spectrum in a vein mined by Little Milton
and Artie "Bluesboy" White. That
comparison is still apt but Haddix's searing
axe work sets him apart with an aggressive,
slashing attack that reminds me of those great
early Son Seals records. As in past releases
Haddix wrote every song and once again is
backed by a tremendous band including a crackling
horn section that really gives these songs
an added wallop. There's an autobiographical
bent to number of these songs like the slinky
opener "Andy's" and ode to "the
roughest little place in town" and the
funky
"Blues From Staghorn
Street" a soulful song about Haddix's
own neighborhood. Haddix cuts loose on the
romping "Acute Blues Syndrome" a
sure fire blues anthem if I've ever heard
one, opens the swaggering "Am I Country
Enough For You" with some blistering
fret work backed by some swinging horns, lays
down the law on the super funky "Cut
Off Your Money" ("If you think my
love making is funny I'll cut off the money")
and the intense
minor key blues
of "Shatterproof Heart" featuring
Haddix at his soulful best. This album was
cut on Dec. 12th so obviously Haddix was in
a holiday mood as he closes the record out
with three strong
Christmas tunes.
There's
very few artists who have been been as consistently
good as Travis Haddix in the past few years
and he certainly deserves wider recognition.
As with the previous records "Blues From
Staghorn Street" is recommended for those
who like their blues with plenty of grit and
soul.
-Check
out these related reviews:
Travis
Haddix Website
Milk
& Bread
Company
Is Coming
(Jeff
Harris)
|
Jerry "Boogie"
McCain: Boogie Is My Name (Music Maker)
Lee Gates And The Alabama Cotton Kings (Music
Maker)
Like
clock work the Music Maker Foundation steadily continues
to release fine, if unheralded, recordings by deserving
artists both well known and obscure. Among the latest
batch are a pair by two fifty year blues veterans
including the latest by the legendary Jerry McCain
and the overdue debut by sizzling guitarist Lee
Gates.
"Boogie
Is My Name" is McCain's third for the label
following on the heels of a fine acoustic outing
and 2000's stellar "This Stuff Just Kills Me"
which was easily one of his best. McCain's new release
marks a remarkable 50 years in the business having
cut his first record way back in 1953 for the famous
Trumpet label when he billed himself as Jerry "Boogie"
McCain, His Harmonica & Orchestra. Down through
the years he's cut prolifically for Excello, Jewel,
Rex, Okeh and in more recent years for Ichiban.
For whatever reason McCain's profile isn't as high
as it should be but as this new one proves he remains
at his creative peak.
The
electric "Boogie Is My Name" is the true
follow-up to "This Stuff Just Kills Me"
and while that one had an all-star cast featuring
Jimmie Vaughn, Jimmie Johnson and Double Trouble
rhythm section, McCain claims the less well known
gentleman on this record created better music. Who's
to argue as McCain and his less well known cohorts
sound mighty fine delivering a looser, stripped
down juke joint groove. McCain is without a doubt
one of the finest amplified harp blowers on the
scene with a big, clear tone throwing down an endless
stream of inventive licks. He also happens to be
one of the wittiest song writers around a fact well
showcased on a set that features all originals including
the shuffling anthem "Boogie Is My Name"
which kicks things off in romping fashion and the
hilarious "My New Next Door Neighbor"
an update of his classic 50's Excello rocker "My
Next Door Neighbor." There's not a bum track
in the bunch with favorites going to the insistent
groove of "Big Butt Sara", the back alley
vibe of "Lowdown Dirty Rat" and the remarkable
nearly nine minute closer "Demons Of The Body."
On this latter tune McCain goes to church, literally,
taking on the guise of Rev. Boogie McCain as he
sermonizes on those "Demons Of The Body"
like rheumatism, bursitis and cancer backed just
by an organ and the shouts from the congregation.
Can I get a witness!
Unlike
McCain, Lee Gates remains a local legend although
this release may soon rectify that. Lee Gates was
born in Mississippi and moved to Milwaukee as a
teenager where he has been playing his brand of
down home blues for the past 50 years. Gates also
happens to be the first cousin of Albert Collins
and you can definitely hear it in his stinging guitar
work. Despite coming late in life Gates was lucky
to record as far too many great bluesman pass without
getting that opportunity.
Unlike
McCain, Lee Gates remains a local legend although
this release may soon rectify that. Lee Gates was
born in Mississippi and moved to Milwaukee as a
teenager where he has been playing his brand of
down home blues for the past 50 years. Gates also
happens to be the first cousin of Albert Collins
and you can definitely hear it in his stinging guitar
work. Despite coming late in life Gates was lucky
to record as far too many great bluesman pass without
getting that opportunity.
Gates
makes the best of that opportunity on "Lee
Gates And The Alabama Cotton Kings" (the record
was cut in Alabama) backed by a fine band including
the excellent drummer Ardie Dean who also played
on McCain's record. What we get hear is plenty of
stomping good time party blues as Gates unleashes
some aggressive, stinging axe work reminiscent of
his more famous cousin. The entire album was cut
in three hours and indeed if it wasn't for the fact
that there's no crowd noise you could swear Gates
cut this right from the bandstand. Gates gets right
to work on the blistering instrumental "Sweet
Lucy's Groove" before wrapping his gritty vocals
around numbers like the funky "You Gotta Love
Me", "I Gotta Honky Tonk Woman" and
the mid-tempo grind of "Down To The Ghetto."
Gates uncorked a few more steamy instrumentals like
"Lucy's Voodoo" and the torrid "Lee's
Boogie's" before wrapping it up an taking the
bus back north.
As
always it's important to note that Music Maker is
much more than a record label. Music maker's main
mission is to raise the standard of living for down
and out traditional musicians and help them perform.
In this they been hugely successful and along the
way have released some great music. With a recent
article in the New York Times let's hope Music Maker
receives even more support so they can keep their
remarkable mission rolling along.
-Check
out these related links:
Music
Maker Website
This
Stuff Just Kills Me: The Jerry "Boogie"
McCain Story
Jerry
McCain: The Complete Jewel Singles 1965-1972
(Jeff
Harris)
|
|
|
|
