ERNIE JOHNSON: SQUEEZE ITPhat Sound Records 4112
SONGS: Who Is That Man; All American Girl; Squeeze It; It’s Gettin Hard; It’s Party Time Again; I’ve Been Loving You Too Long; Who Told You; The Entertainer; You Made This House A Happy Home; I Remember J.T./ Sexy
Ernie Johnson, the charismatic, tall Texan with the red outfits, has been singing his soulful versions of rhythm and blues songs for several decades. He has over a dozen hit albums and singles, mainly with Paula Records and Malaco/Waldoxy Records.Although influenced by Otis Redding, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Johnnie Taylor, among others, Ernie, or E.J. as he likes to be called, has developed his own individual style over all these years. His fine tenor vocals and even falsettos are sung from the heart which give him an emotional stage performance.
All of the songs on this CD have deep audience appeal since E.J. puts his all into every song. He is dynamic, soulful, passionate and genuine with the songs. Many of the tunes build to a dramatic climax. The songs are a mix of rhythm and blues and the sixties -style of soul. E.J. co-wrote eight of the eleven tracks on the CD, and arranged the song titles to tell a story. He pours out his heart in the emotional song, “You Made This House a Happy Home.” He ponders on being a part-time lover in “It’s Getting Hard.” He pays a deep, reminiscent tribute to his good friend, Johnnie Taylor with a song he and Johnnie Taylor’s son wrote. E.J. sings a highly sexy version of “Sexy.” In fact, all the selections are well-done with the right feelings that fit the lyrics. E.J. also does great cover versions of two songs by R.Moore, “All American Girl,” and “The Entertainer,” and a beautiful, soulful rendition of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.” Otis would be proud of him, since he sings it so much like Otis did.
Ernie Johnson has the wonderful ability to sing with deep, dramatic emotion which is always an audience pleaser. All the songs on this CD showcase these talents. They are a fine collection of songs for your library. Maria Bainer
GET THE BLUES!
Narm 50007
ARTISTS AND SONGS: Robert Cray: Baby’s Arms; Lucky Peterson: Remember The Day; Delbert McClinton: Baggage Claim; Shemekia Copeland: It’s 2 A.M.; Keb’ Mo’: The Door; Johnnie Taylor: Last Two Dollars; Roomful of Blues: The Salt Of My Tears; E.G. Kight: Let The Healing Begin; Sunnyland Slim: You Can’t Have It All; Tommy Castro: Lucky In Love; R.L.Burnside: Miss Maybelle; Big Bill Morgenfield: Highway 69; Walter Trout: Ride ‘Til I’m Satisfied; Otis Taylor: My Soul’s In Louisiana; Stevie Ray Vaughan: Pride And Joy; Rory Block: Talkin’ ‘Bout My Man; Koko Taylor: Don’t Let Me Catch You (With Your Drawers Down); Honeyboy Edwards: Wind Howlin’ Blues
This CD is not your ordinary blues sampler. It is the bargain of the year at only $1.95 for some of the most talented musicians that you can hear in the blues realms. The eighteen tracks on this CD are high quality recordings of some of the top contemporary blues artists, as well as a few of the well-known artists who take a more traditional approach to the blues. Each track is from an album of the musician. A wide array of independent blues record companies are represented.The tracks were chosen from scores of submissions by a blue ribbon panel of music retailers. The whole album is seventy minutes of good listening.
This CD is the first time that the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) has sponsored a blues sampler. This means that the CD will get wide exposure in stores where very few other blues CDs are sold. Proceeds of this sampler will benefit NARM’s scholarship fund. The three-year-old Blues Music Association (BMA) co-produced this album. They are delighted that NARM has expanded its horizons and recognized the blues, just as they did with jazz and classical music. And of course, more blues visibility is always good!
There is a wide spectrum of blues music represented on this CD. It is easy to hear the traditional type of country blues with such musicans as R.L. Burnside, Honeyboy Edwards, Sunnyland Slim, and even Keb’Mo’ who has a traditional blues base, but sometimes sounds more contemporary. In the wide middle, there such varied musicians as Koko Taylor, Big Bill Morganfield, Johnnie Taylor and Roomful of Blues, Lucky Peterson, Delbert McClinton and
Rory Block. Leaning more toward the rock side of the blues are Robert Cray, Shemekia Copeland, Tommy Castro, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Walter Trout. It is interesting to realize that there are blues elements in each of the songs.
The track selections can go from a rock blues to a country blues in just a song change so one gets a wide variety of music all in one CD. It is amazing that there’s such a diversity of musicians on one CD. There are even unfamiliar artists on the CD, such as the mellow vocals of E.G. Kight and the more political vocals of Otis Taylor. Just when you think you know someone’s style, like the jump blues of Roomful of Blues or the particular style of Rory Block, they do something else on this CD to acquaint you with a new dimension of their artistry. E.G. Kight, Rory Block, and the vocalist in the Roomful of Blues Group all sing very soulful songs. Selections for each of the artists are well-chosen. The accompanying “liner notes” have pictures of each record cover,with a photo of most of the musicians, and the name and number of the album.
This enjoyable blues sampler is at an irresistible low price. It is a good introduction to the variety of blues. It could make a nice gift to a blues lover. It could bring some surprises and even new blues discoveries. It could remind one of someone they haven’t heard for a long time. It is a great collection of blues musicians, and could be a positive asset to your CD library. Just for starters, when it came out last fall, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. For further updates re BMA or this CD, go to: http://www.bluesmusicassociation.org Maria Bainer
GUITAR MAC & HIS BLUES EXPRESS
RIVER CITY SHUFFLE, MacSound 062601
SONGS: T-Bone Shuffle; I’m Guilty; Pretty Girls; I Read Your Ad; Prozac; Mary Jo; Blow Wind Blow; I Can’t Sleep; Traveling River Side; Using that Thing; Hustle Is On; Chicken & Hawk
Guitar Mac has been playing his guitar and singing the blues, both with a group and as a solo, for several decades. This CD is released on his own label, MacSound. It, plus four of his other CDs, will be rereleased on the Fresno Uptown Records Label soon. Guitar Mac has signed a three and a half year contract with this label. He is based in the Sacramento area.
The slide guitar is Guitar Mac’s forte and there are some of these nice solos throughout the CD. He is also joined by Grant Urias and Ronnie Stewart who also play guitar on this album. Tom Whinnery adds some imaginative and outstanding keyboard playing to the album. One wishes there were an instrumental or two on the album, so these instruments could be heard in their true depth, without vocal distraction. Guitar Mac sings all the vocals on the album. Sometimes his vocals fit right in with the lyrics, while at other times, his vocals sound clipped and abrupt, and not a soulful as they could be.
The twelve songs on the album are a mix of blues and rhythm and blues and are written by several bluesmen, including Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Lonnie Johnson, Robert Johnson, and Tampa Red. Guitar Mac wrote or co-wrote four of the tracks. Women are often the theme of the songs. Guitar Mac modernizes some of the lyrics, including “Prozac,” a traditional arranged by him, where he sings such words as: “Relax, you’re in the Prozac generation.”
This CD is a good showcase for Guitar Mac’s talents, and those of his band. Check it out! Maria Bainer
KOKO TAYLOR
DELUXE EDITION
Alligator, ALCD 5610
SONGS: I’m A Woman; Beer Bottle Boogie; Born Under a Bad Sign; Mother Nature; Hey, Bartender; I’d Rather Go Blind; Man Size Job; Let The Good Times Roll; Voodoo Woman; Wang Dang Doodle; Stop Watching Your Enemies; Sure Had A Wonderful Time Last Night; Come To Mama; Time Will Tell; Blues Hotel
Koko Taylor has been belting out those blues in her signature style for five decades. The fifteen songs on this CD represent some of her best recordings from the eight albums she has recorded for Alligator Records over four decades. Koko unleashes her powerful, fiery vocals on such classics as “I’m A Woman,” “Let The Good Times Roll,” and her trademark song, “Wang Dang Doodle.” She sings tender, very soulful versions of “I’d Rather Go Blind,” and “Time Will Tell.” She packs an emotional punch with the deep blues, “Mother Nature.” She packs several punches in “Man Size Job,” a previously unreleased track, written by Denise LaSalle. She parties hearty with such tunes as “Hey Bartender” and “Beer Bottle Boogie.” She is truly the undisputable “Queen Of The Blues,” and her many awards will testify to that.
Several of her friends are guest artists on this album. B.B. King joins her on the exuberant “Blues Hotel.” Buddy Guy plays guitar and sings on “Born Under A Bad Sign.” Mighty Joe Young plays guitar on “Voodoo Woman,” a song from Koko’s first Alligator recording, “I Got What It Takes.” Carey Bell blows his harp on “Mother Nature,” and Pinetop Perkins adds his piano playing to “Hey Bartender.” There is a wide variety of other musicians
playing on all these tunes, since these songs were recorded over a period of 26 years.
Koko Taylor has what it takes to be the Queen of The Blues for over forty years. She is still going strong and performing over 80 gigs a year. These Deluxe Editions are the cream of the performer’s crop and great library additions. Maria Bainer
SON SEALS
DELUXE EDITION
Alligator, ALCD5611
SONGS: I Believe To My Soul; Going Home; Bad Axe; Don’t Pick Me For Your Fool; Buzzard Luck; Telephone Angel; Life All By Myself; Your Love Is Like Cancer; Landlord At My Door; I Can’t Hold Out; Before The Bullets Fly; Good Woman Bad; Funky Bitch; Hot Sauce
These Deluxe Editions of various artists are great. In this CD of Son Seals, as well as in all the others, the favorite and best songs from the Alligator albums of a particular artist are presented on one CD. This is a fine idea which helps to expand one’s horizons about an artist. Since Son Seals was the third artist Alligator recorded in 1973, there have been eight Alligator releases from Son Seals. From one to three tracks from an album appear on this CD. In the case of Son Seals, this gives a thirty-year period to review his singing and guitar playing.
Son Seals grew up hearing the blues from babyhood, since his family lived in back of his father’s juke joint in Arkansas. His father was a well-known musician who played a variety of instruments and attracted big-name bluesmen to his club. He also taught Son Seals all about playing and singing the blues. By the age of 13, drummer, Son Seals was backing many of the musicians coming there. He was playing guitar and leading his own band at 18. He toured as guitarist with Earl Hooker and was drummer with Albert King, before he moved to Chicago in 1971. Over the years, Son Seals has emerged as one of Chicago’s - and the world’s -greatest bluesmen.
From the very first guitar note, one senses a strong, powerful force at work. The vocals reinforce this idea. In all these years, Son Seals has never let up on the intensity of his blues. Furthermore, Son Seals wrote eight of the fifteen tracks on this album. He plays and sings straight ahead blues as well as songs with a funk background with equal energy. The songs without the funk rhythms have more soulful feeling to them. There are many long guitar solos to enjoy on this CD, including the long and mellow ones on “Telephone Angel” and on “I Can’t Hold Out.” “Life All By Myself” is a song from the first 1972 recording session which is a great passionate duet between his vocals and guitar. It was previously unreleased. Four of the songs here are from his two live recordings. “Hot Sauce,” an awesome instrumental from his first live recording, is a fantastic closing number for this CD.
Each of these Deluxe Editions have biographical information and a collection of varied, rare photos of each artist. The cover of the album is featured in a full-length poster. There is notation about which album each song is from. Plus all the Alligator albums of the artist are listed.
These Deluxe Editions are special treats, and this one featuring Son Seals is no exception. It is great to hear that an artist can still play with such verve and emotional strength over such a long period of time. It is no wonder that Son Seals is one of Chicago’s premier bluesmen. Consider adding this album and the others in the Deluxe series to your library. Maria Bainer
OMAR AND THE HOWLERS
BIG DELTA
Blind Pig BPCD5072
SONGS: Linin’ Track; Monkey Land; Muddy Springs Road; Life Without You; Bad Seed; Wall of Pride; Pushin’ Fire; Mississippi Queen; Mystery Walk; Low Down Dirty Blues; Caveman Rock; Conversation Mambo
Omar and the Howlers play some of their favorite songs they have recorded over the years since 1986 in their eleven albums as well as new songs created in jam sessions. Omar Dykes, the Texas-based lead vocalist and guitarist, wrote all but one of the twelve tracks. Although there are occasional nods to the blues and R&B songs, the group is more known for their roots music which is catchy, unique, rocking, and swampy sounding.
Omar’s gritty, nasal-toned, bass vocals are predominant. They often have an evil sound to them which dramatizes some of the lyrics. They can be reminiscent of Howlin’ Wolf’s vocals, and yet they have their original sound. The band rhythm patterns are varied and imaginative, with a few spacey opening lines. The band is comprised of some excellent musicians, including two alternating drummers, B.E. “Frosty” Smith and Terry Bozzio; an augmenting slide and baritone guitarist, Malcolm “Pap Mali” Welbourn,who also plays sitar and dobro; and bassist, Roscoe Beck. Omar plays a few singing guitar solos, but often blends with the other musicians.
There is a wide variety of music on this CD, from blues to heavy rock. The strongest blues, “ Life Without You,” is a moody one on the despair side. “Mississippi Queen,” a heavy rock song, is the only one not written by Omar. The group has a way of drawing one into their music. “Bad Seed” and “Conversation Mambo” have an R&B, shuffle base.
This CD gives an overview of the kind of music that Omar and The Howlers favor. Their raw, sensual music is ear-catching. Listening to this CD will broaden your music horizons. Maria Bainer
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