Learned My Lesson
Delmark Records DE-748
and gospel in the development of her beautiful voice. With a comfortable range
from alto to low tenor responses, Ms. Young has fashioned a vocal character that is
immediately relaxing, soothing, and sexually explosive. Having worked the hard way, up
through the Chicago club scene, Zora has put in the years, the taxing dues, and paid all
the tribute that may be necessaryl It's now her turn stepping up front for this bombshell
release!
Zora's enriched vocals are backed by an all-star cadre of friends that includes James
Wheeler and Danny Draher on the guitars and Ken Saydack on the keyboards.
Building upon the rhythms of Johnnie B. Gayden on bass and Tim Austin on drums, the
mix is also enlightened by the tenor sax of John Brumbach. Roberta Thomas is heard
with the background vocals.
You get a bit of the gospel inflections on her rendition of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send
Me Someone To Love" and Ken Saydack's "The Lord Helps Those Who Help
Themselves". Hear her penchant for rockin' stuff with Tina Turner's "Nutbush City
Limits", Chuck Berry's "Living In The USA", and her jump-styled take on "My Manss An
Undertaker" (made famous by Dinah Washington).
The blues don't reach any higher, or dip any lower, than those here. With tunes like
~iBlues Fallin' Down Like Rain", "Damn Your Eyes", or the closing self-written "Johnny B",
you get your dose of Chicago stylings. Seasoned, veteran singers like Zora Young are
one of the staples of Chicago blues; no doubt, this will be a welcome addition to any
music library. This disc lacks nothing but your immediate attention! Mark A. Cole
Deimark Records; 4121 N. Rockwell; Chicago, IL 60618: or, www.delmark.com
BACK ON TRACK
Blind Pig Records BPCD5055
SONGS:
Back On Track/ Get You Next To Me/ Who
Does She Think She ls/ The Long Haul/
No Big Deal/ Jumpin' The Gun/ You Really Got
It Goin' On/ Good, Good, Good/ Rehabilitation
Song/ Honda Betty/ Backup Man
Arthur Adams has extraordinary talent in sin
ging, guitar playing, and song writing. His musi-
cal career goes back to the late fifties. He has
recorded on various labels and has been suc-
cessful as a studio musician, working with The
Jackson ! Five and The Crusaders,among
others. He reemerged into the blues world in
the mid-eighties, and is now highly regarded.
He stars regularly at B.B. King's club and other
venues in the Los Angeles area.
This album is impressive. Adams' vocals are
genuinely heartfelt on a very emotional level.
Even the most ordinary kinds of songs, especi
ally funk-based, are enhanced by Adams' soul-
drenched vocals. His vocals are sweet, sexy,
sincere, and easy to relate to. His guitar play-
ing sings and adds deep, melodic dimensions.
The tasteful song arrangements have their
own imaginative flair which makes them
special.
Adams wrote eight out of the eleven songs on
this CD. They are a mix of deep blues, shuffles,
R&B, and a little catchy funk. Some of the
most heartfelt, solid blues are "Backup Man,"
"Rehabilitation Song," and "You Really Got It
Going On," all songs about his love life. Long-
time friend, B.B. King plays guitar and duets
vocally with Adams on "Get You Next To Me,"
and "The Long Haul," two more soulful blues
songs.
Arthur Adams entertains his audience with his
soulful vocals, guitar playing, and creative
originals in his own style. His special talents,
plus unique band arrangements of the songs,
provide an album that shines with an
emotional, magical flow that is beyond that of
many ordinary groups. Arthur Adams deserves
wider recognition. This album should put
Adams on the fast track to blues stardom.
This is a highly recommended album.
Maria Bainer
The Best of Little Mack Simmons:
The Electro-Fi Years
Electro-Fi Records 3368
The South Side of Chicago lost one of its best this year
with the passing of Malcolm 'Little Mack' Simmons in
October of last year. The blues music industry, his fans,
and harp enthusiasts everywhere will also miss his his
indelible spirit and register mastery. A harmonica player
who has played beside names like Freddie King, Lonnie
Brooks, Magic Sam, Howlin' Wolf, Luther Allison and
Robert Nighthawk.
licks in Twist, Arkansas. Growing up with the great Sonny Boy Williamson II as his main
influence didn't hurt either. Coming to Chicago, he was soon playing beside slide great
Robert Nighthawk. There in Chi-Town, he also fell in step with the work of Little Walter
Jacobs, who he followed from club to club in his lust for harmonica technique.
Simmons was soon recording on his own with his own band and others. His work is
found on the Bea & Baby label, with Chess Records on Willie Dixon sides, on his own
PM & Simmons labels, later with the Wolf and St. George labels, and finally with
ElectroFi. The three releases for Electro-Fi are; Litt/e Mack Is Back, On Down The Line,
and the 1999 reissue of his P.M./Simmons Collection
Pulling the best of the best, which is essentially what we have here, also pointedly
speaks volumes of Mack's music's contemporaneous appeal. They are especially
poignant each time they are played. Songs of love and love lost are mixed within
selfpenned pieces and covers from Little Walter, Eddie Boyd, Elmore James, Willie
Dixon and others. There are fifteen tracks and a full hour of note-for-note harp work on
this biscuit that will literally astonish you! The passing of Little Mack was the loss of
another great southern bluesman and Chicago stylist. Mark A. Cole
Electro-Fi Records; P.O. Box 191; LaSalle Station; Niagra Falls, NY 14304: or, www.electrofi.com