March 2001

Jimmy Johnson
Pepper's Hangout
Delmark Records

By Bill Milkowski

Chicago bluesman Jimmy Johnson blends spine-tingling, high-register vocals and stinging, economical guitar licks on Pepper's Hangout. This stunning document from 1977-originally intended as Johnson's first album as a leader, though it was subsequently quashed by its U.S. sponsor and later licensed by a British label-includes impassioned renditions of "Married Woman Blues," "Looking For My Baby" and "The Things That I Used to Do" along with a rollicking "High Heel Sneakers" and the funky instrumental title track. A Chicago-blues classic brought back in circulation.