Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection
MCA Records 088-112-603-2
Much more than a greatest hits collection, Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix
Collection, has thirty tracks culled from the vaults of Experience Hendrix,
the production company formed by Jimi’s relatives to insure his legacy. It
was the blues that turned Hendrix on to new levels of self-indulging musical
exploration found on the three album releases before his death, and on the
hours of material remaining unissued in estate hands.
This release is a two-disc set that provides one platter of studio
material, and one plate of live numbers from various venues around the world.
Eighteen studio cuts have all been released in one version or another; even
though some changes are evident. Alternate recordings of “Highway Child”,
“Stone Free”, “All Along The Watchtower”, and “Spanish Magic Castle” are
used; and the renditions of “Stepping Stone” and “Isabella” are single
versions that were previously released by the original Band Of Gypsys.
On Disc Two more rarities abound. It leads off with two previously
unavailable songs from a 1968 Winterland show (San Francisco); “Fire” and
“Hey Joe”. Then follows a 1969 version of “I Don’t Live Today”, “Hear My
Train A Comin’” and “Johnny B. Goode” from a 1970 Berkeley, California
show, and a previously unreleased “Foxey Lady” from a 1970 Maui, Hawaii
show. Two previously unavailable songs from the 1970 New York Pop Festival
(“Red House”) and the 1970 Isle Of Wright Festival (“Freedom”) follow
“Machine Gun”, which came from a Fillmore East show of the same year. A 1969
performance of “Purple Haze” at the San Diego Sports Arena comes afore the
now-famous Woodstock version (1969) of “Star Spangled Banner” and a
heretofore unavailable “Wild Thing” from the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
A twenty-page booklet comes packed with historic photos and other
valuable information, and the music is a dynamite set of tunes with treasures
laden throughout. Don’t get this for a gift unless you own one yourself. This
would be a tough one to give away. Significant changes in overall quality
come with the remastering (under the supervision of Eddie Kramer, the
original engineer), of the old material for presentation here. Production
chores fell to sister Janie Hendrix and John McDermott. This release is a
critical examination of the genius behind music. The live material remains a
precious reminder of his spontaneity, while the studio stuff reflects his
perfectionist nature. This is Jimi that everyone should recall and appreciate.
Mark A. Cole
MCA Records; 2220 Colorado Avenue; Santa Monica, CA 90404:
or , www.mcarecords.com: or, www.jimihendrix.com
A Portrait Of Champion Jack Dupree
Rounder 1166-11586-2
Champion Jack was N‘Orleans-born and raised but he spent over three
decades living in Europe working the circuits as a singer and pianist. The
one-time prize-fighter, Dupree managed to begin recording in the 1930s in the
face of blatant racism and economic disaster. He moved to Europe for many
years, and his planned return to the US in the 1980s brought him many more
accolades. Jack’s piano-led blues follow his consummate lyrical storytelling.
A gregarious individual, Mr. Dupree’s reflects his life in his music
These sessions date to three recording sessions back in 1990, 1991, and
1993, and have been released before under the same label as Back Home In New
Orleans, Forever And Ever, and One Last Time, respectively. The sessionists
working with Jack on this effort are: guitarists Kenn Lending, Wayne Bennett,
John Mooney or Walter Payton Jr.; drummers Stanley Stephens or Kerry Brown;
bassists Walter Payton or Walter Payton Jr.; and hornmen Teddy Riley, Alvin
Tyler, Fred Kemp, Tino Barker, Earl Turbinton, ‘Cookie’ Cook and Gordon
‘Sax’ Gordon.
Opening the disc, the listener is first confronted with the lamenting
“Freedom”, a social statement on the black experience. Then this mood is
lifted with the bouncy instrumental “Skit Skat”, just before you fall into
the slow gait of the “Dupree Special”. With powered covers like Roosevelt
Sykes’ “Calcutta” and Brownie McGhee’s “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Jack
has thrown in twelve of his own to complete this set of fourteen. Mr. Dupree
has put his elusive stylings into the fray; these are born of the blues, rag,
barrelhouse, and downright bad times surrounding his lifetime (1910-1992).
The rugged and sometimes tender blues of Champion Jack Dupree is highly
influenced by his native home, his since-childhood friendship with Professor
Longhair, his orphanage upbringing, and his circuitous career that to his
ultimate end kept him playing the blues. To that end, Jack remained extremely
popular here and abroad even after his European expatriation. Jack was the
concerned performer who gave an audience just what they wanted; escape from
the drudgeries of life, and Champion Jack knew how to do that!
This collection should serve as a fine introduction to the uninitiated, and
for the fans, this can only be frosting on the cake. Mark A. Cole
Rounder Records Corp.; One Camp Street; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140:
or, www.rounder.com
There’s Always One More Time
Rounder 1166-11581-2
Born in Louisiana, Johnny Adams vocal style was rooted in his gospel
upbringing and the popularity of R & B from the 50s through the 70s. Signing
with Rounder in 1982, Adams had the experience of the chitlin’ circuit, some
45 sides, and a powerful determination to succeed behind him. The fertile New
Orleans scene cultivated Johnny’s soul-filled brand of R & B that is packed
with tangential spicings of jazz, blues, and pop.
Johnny, with big band flair, opens with the standard “I Feel Like
Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”, done funky-sytyle with Walter ‘Wolfman’
Washington on the guitar. Doing the Pomus/Rebannack “Happy Hard Times”,
Adams swoons around Dr. John’s piano and Duke Robillard’s sweetly jazzed
axe. The deep vocal delivery and cabaret feel of “I’ll Only Miss Her When I
Think Of Her” is a 1985 cut that floats atop David Torkanowsky’s job on the
piano ivories. And don’t miss Alvin ‘Red’ Tyler’s slow and easy saxophone
solo on the same. Next up is Johnny’s now well-know duet with Ruth Brown,
Willie Mabon’s “I Don’t Know”. Listen closer to assess the phenomenal piano
by Bobby Foster, and again the Robillard axe.
Digging into the soul bag, Adams pulls out classic renditions of John
Hiatt’s “Lover Will”, Dan Penn’s “One Foot In The Blues”, and more
material from Robillard, Doc Pomus, Percy Mayfield, George Gershwin, and
others. On this biscuit, Johnny finds plenty of help from Duke Robillard,
Walter Washington, Dr. John, and other prominent guests like Brown, Aaron
Neville, and Harry Connick Jr. on “A Lot Of Living To Do”. Closing with the
traditional spiritual, “Never Alone” Johnny Adams wraps up one of the finest
R & B-soul releases of the year. With material spanning his fifteen-year
Rounder career, singer Johnny Adams has packed more soul into this container
than anyone may imagine! Don’t miss it! Mark A. Cole
Rounder Records Corp.; One Camp Street; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140:
or, www.rounder.com
Purveyor
Blues Artist Records BA2224
Long Island bluesman Michael Manne and his band Tiger Blues Band is hot
locally, and seeking to fly further afield with the release of this effort.
Deciding to do a batch of well-chosen standards and covers, Manne and company
do their best to set any place aflame with its interactive audience
participation and satisfaction. Stretching the studio time to get just that
perfect-live feel. Manne and the Band wring every song for what it’s worth!
Manne pushes his fender and Gibson guitars, and carries the vocal load.
The Tiger Blues Band is Ken Clayton on rhythm guitar, Tony Fucci on the bass,
and drummer Paul Colucci. Additional musicians are: Jim Kolman on rhythm
guitar for three cuts; Nick Singu on the keyboards on four tracks; C.C.
Taylor singin’ lead vocals on “Kansas City”, and background vox on one
other; and Bill Coleman the harmonica player pipes up two cuts.
A rollickin’ jump styled “Everyday I have The Blues” blasts from the
pad, soon followed by Manne’s punctuating guitar licks on “Sweet Little
Angel”. Adventuresome phrasings make “I’ll Play The Blues For You” a
smoothly-picked number, while the heartbreakin’ “Same Thing” has the Tiger
Blues Band in syncronious musical ecstasy! What a blast! B.B.’s “Three
O’Clock In The Morning” takes a similar slow gait with fine picking and a
superbly-balanced bottom. Further highlights have to include Freddie King’s
“Hideaway”, Leiber & Stoller’s “Kansas City”, and Willie Dixon’s “Little
Red Rooster”.
Someone’s got the blues in Long Island; and it’s certain the the Tiger
Blues Band may be spreading it around. Michael Manne shows this blues axe
adeptness, and the band is guilty of aiding and abetting him. For a bunch of
worn covers, there’s an awful lot of energy in this packet. New Yorkers have
got a fine musical therapist with plenty of blues medicine to dispense. Put
the new Tiger Blues Band platter on, then sit back and relax with some New
Yorker blues. Mark A. Cole
Blues Artist Records; P.O. Box 0165; Long Island, M.B.N.Y. 11951-0165:
or, www.tigerblues.com
New York City Blues Again
DixieFrog Records BA2224
Ready for some good news from NYC? Well, Popa Chubby is here to deliver!
He’s laying down some of his best, while introducing some of New York’s
finest frontline talent. On this slice of the Big Apple; Popa, along with six
guitarists, a bass player and backup, wake up your senses with one heavy
string assault. On the side for the most part, are: Steve Holley kickin’ on
the drumkit, Kris Jefferson beatin’ up the bass, and Mike Latrell settin’
fire to the keyboards
Popa Chubby (aka Ted Horowitz), the Brooklyn Bad Boy throws down three of
his own tough selections: The opening “My Last Cigarette”, “Fishnet Stocking
And A Long Pair Of Legs”, and “Take Off”. The former hard promise to quit is
underscored with drivin’ rhythm and ferocious axe licks, while “Fishnet...”
slides in with its pop-like admission. The latter instrumental, with its
Peter Gunn-ish beat sets Chubby on a pedestal as he lights it all up!
Zach Zunis, an possible Dick Dale disciple, comes in with two highly
flavorful instrumentals: The first “Lookey Here” runs with almost three
minutes of power chording that would have the Pope stretching his neck to
watch. His “Surf”, meanwhile, has that rhythm but is set apart by his
ignited and flaming guitar line in the sand.
Irving Louis Lattin unleashes the Will Jenning and Stix Hooper tune
“Never Make A Move Too Soon”, but this ain’t country folks. An economic, yet
versatile, string worker, Lattin follows up with a richly, smooth set of
pipes. Doin’ Robert Johnson’s “When You’ve Got A Good Friend”, he rips into
the classic romp with finery and flair!
Lewis Gatewood gets into the ring with one song, but ... doin’ Hendrix’
“Red House” you’ll see he needs no handicap to get the job done. His
harmonic liberties give the standard a new resilience and more breathing
space. The seven-minute version here features keen stokes and pedal
brilliance.
Joe Taino spills over with self-written Latino sensibilities in tuning
and percussion on two tracks: “Anna Lee” and “Mary Lou”. The first is an
instrumental with a jazzed Caribbean posture and cuttin’-heads guitar, while
the second too remains a platform for exotic surf sounds and tantalizing axe
work.
Matt Smith’s “Shelter From The Storm” and his “Junkie For Your Love”
are two well-written songs with stunning solo chops on both selections (also
with different backup than the aforementioned). “Shelter...’s” even-handed
rhythm gives Smith rise to emotionally expressive phrasings. The desperado
delivery of “Junkie...”is ghostly, sorrowful, and quite southwestern in its
feel. Smith treats us on the latter with his layers of lap steel, mandolin,
and electric guitar. Matt also chips in the axe on Steve Logan’s “Dancin’
Chickens”. The bassman of the bunch, Logan, is here delivering some strong
vocals and half the bottom, on his humorous jaunt into his foul problems.
Got to thank the Chub on this one. This is, by all means, the phattest
introduction around here in a long time. Absolutely power-laden material that
is not for the meek of heart. Quoting Popa, “We breakin’ some rules on the
Motherfucker”. Sometimes this market needs a sharp smack in the face!
Mark A. Cole
DixieFrog Records; 9 Rue De La Marquette; 02600 Retheuil; France:
or, dixiefrog.pl@wanadoo.fr