CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE
SANCTUARY
Real World Records , 70876 1847222

SONGS: (1) Homeless Child; (2) My Road Lies In The Darkness; (3) Burn Down The Cornfield; (4) Train To Nowhere; (5) Shootin’ For The Moon (6) Shadow People; (7) Snake Song; (8) The Neighborhood; (9) Alicia; (10) Sanctuary; (11) I Had Trouble; (12) Route 19

The legendary Charlie Musselwhite has a forty-year blues career, and thirty-three albums behind him. This is his first CD with Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. Many of the songs have a slow, sad bluesy sound to them, which reflect such shadowy themes as loneliness, despair, evil and dying. Even so, there is often a rock ‘n’ roll underlying beat to the songs. The Blind Boys From Alabama guest on two tracks and add their gospel influence. Ben Harper performs also on two tracks.

Charlie Musselwhite's vocals are gentle, emotional, and seductive. He enjoys singing ballads. His harmonica playing is strong and masterful. There are some long, exciting harp solos in the album. Charlie renders his versions of cover songs, and adds four of his own creations. This CD features music that moves the soul in a very haunting way. Maria Bainer

Eddie 'The Chief' Clearwater
"Rock 'N'Roll City"
Bullseye / Karonte (Spain)

Few new things can be said about Eddie Clearwater which are not known by his fans. Only a few words to introduce this Chicago West Side singer and guitar player who got a great success at Chicago scene during the sixties and seventies. His style, closer to Magic Sam, made him get the top places among Windy City blues guitar players. In fact he was considered as one of the biggest names who followed Sam Machgett’s and Chuck Berry’s styles. In this cd Eddie is backed by The Straitjackets who are really inspired, giving a bright performing which lets Eddie play his blues and r&r with a terrific feeling, very good disposition and high intensity, not only in his most urban performing but also when he plays a downhome and even country style. The cd includes thirteen tracks most of them Eddie’s own compositions, but it also gives us some Straitjackets’, Fats Domino’s and Jerry McCain’s own songs. In short, an excellent cd. GREAT. Vicente Zúmel


Dorothy Moore
"Gittin' Down LIVE!"
Farish Street 2003

This is the first live recording of a powerful wild singer called Dorothy Moore who along the years has gathered a wide experience. I will not tell you her age but what I can say is that in 1973 she first recorded the song 'Misty Blue' included on this cd, although the song was not published until two years later. The cd gives us thirteen delightful tracks some of them previously unreleased that were recorded between 1985 and 1995 in so different places like Shrevenport (Louisiana), Paris (France), United Kingdom or Kyoto (Japan). In all them Dorothy gives the best of herself performing Otis Redding's and Jimmy Reed's versions with a special mention to her unbelievable performing of Jimmy Reed's 'Baby What You Want Me To Do'. An splendid cd specially devoted to soul and r&b lovers who will enjoy with one of the most suggestive impressing voices of these musical styles. GREAT. Vicente Zúmel


Chris Belleau & The Zydeco Hounds
"Repeat Offender"
Proud Dog 2003

The most dancing enjoying genuine and original Baton Rouge creole music comes directly from Louisiana performed by one of the greatest artists of the actual cajun, blues and zydeco styles. Chris Belleau is an excellent singer, songwriter and accordion player, but he is also an effective good harp and trombone player. This is really an enjoyable delicious cd perfect to enjoy a holiday or week-end party. All the musicians who play on these recordings are very professional too which gives as a result a high quality performing. Joe Osborn at bass, Al Courouleau at guitar (with an effective amazing Texas blues sound), John Smith (former Edgar Winter’s band member) at tenor sax, Andy Burgeois at organ and Richard Courtney at drums shine at a very high level and give the perfect support to make Chris do a complete perfect work. GREAT. Vicente Zúmel


Willie Lomax Blues Revue
"Best Blues Money Can Buy"
Big Boss 2003

Splendid cd recorded by one of the best actual soul-blues artists. Willie Lomax, singer, guitar player and composer with a long professional musical career and a reputed fame, gives us a powerful record and very creative moments, thanks to his musical and lyrics composition skills. The musicians who back him give an amazing performing which gives as a result a bright well done piece of work. The music included offers clear references to O.V. Wright, Otis Clay, Ann Peebles or Al Green. In this cd Willie Lomax gives the main vocal part to the excellent singer and organ player Shawn Brown, who does a passionate tasteful singing. A well done cd with a careful final production which clearly show the hard work thay have done to present the best of themselves. GREAT. Vicente Zúmel

HOUND DOG TAYLOR
RELEASE THE HOUND
Alligator ALCD 4896

SONGS: Wild About You, Baby; Sen-Sa-Shun; She’s Gone; It Hurts Me Too; What’d I Say? One More Time; Sadie; Howling For My Darling; Walking The Ceiling; Sitting At Home Alone; Phillips Screwdriver; Gonna Send You Back To Georgia; Things Don’t Work Out Right; See Me In The Evening/It’s Alright

These fourteen tracks with fifteen songs are all previously unreleased tracks by Hound Dog Taylor which were recorded between 1971 and 1974. Taylor wrote seven of the songs. Nine of the songs were recorded live in two venues, two of the songs were for possible radio or tv broadcast, and only three were recorded in a Chicago studio. Taylor played guitar and sang virtually unknown for thirty-five years before he was recorded by Alligator Records in 1971. It didn’t take long for him to become internationally known. Unfortunately he passed away from cancer in 1975 at the age of fifty-eight.

Even though Taylor played on inexpensive equipment, and sometimes hit wrong notes or was out of tune, his unique style of fast and furious or slow and expressive music stood out. His lengthy, impressive and melodic slide guitar playing was his forte. His vocals had a slightly gritty, country drawl to them. He enjoyed playing his boogies and belly-rubbing music. He had the same two members, second guitarist, Brewer Philips and drummer, Ted Harvey in his band for over twenty years. Both of them played on this CD. Taylor’s exuberant sound remained basically the same over the years. His highly energized sound is just as powerful today as it was when it was recorded.

This mesmerizing CD of Hound Dog Taylor’s is exciting. Give it a listen. Maria Bainer

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