BlueTones
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Beyond the Source
Tone-Cool
Harmonica ace Rod Piazza's Beyond the Source (Tone-Cool 34047-111-2; 55:21) is another raunch-toned, shuffle-swing/jump-blues affair from the W.C. Handy Award winner. Backed by his regular working band, the Mighty Flyers, Piazza cuts loose with abandon on...
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Smokin' Joint
M.C. Records
Smokin' Joint (M.C. Records 0043; 73:46), the new album from Kim Wilson, the charismatic frontman for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, captures him in full stride with two separate exuberant outfits at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix and at the Cafe Boogaloo in Hermosa...
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Wake Up Call
Bullseye Blues
Backed by the Evil Gal Festival Orchestra, boisterous blues belter Michelle Willson summons up the spirit of Dinah Washington, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle on Wake Up Call (Bullseye 11661-9639-2; 47:33). Possessing an imposing set of pipes...
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Watch You When You Go
Bullseye Blues
On Watch You When You Go (Bullseye 11661-9638-2; 42:15), earth-shaking vocalist Mac Odom lends his formidable, soulful pipes to a variety of tunes, from the rocking opener "Roll Me Over" to the classy old-school shouter "You Give Me Nothin' but the Blues...
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton
Telarc
On Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton (Telarc 83535; 54:17), a group of contemporary and old-school blues artists pay homage to the first great star of Delta blues (who recorded from 1929 to 1934). The diverse crew includes harmonica master...
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues
Revenant
This remarkable box set was a dream project of the late Revenant label founder John Fahey. The seven CDs feature Patton's complete recordings for Paramount. Also included is a reprint of Fahey's 1970 book on Patton, along with new notes and lyric transcriptions...
December 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection
Alligator Records
Alligator Records' 30th Anniversary Collection (Alligator 112/113; 75:26, 68:21) is a two-CD sampler of studio and live recordings from a cross section of artists who have recorded for the Chicago label since its 1971 inception. Historian John Sinclair tells...
November 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Sweet Tea
Silvertone
Back in 1968, hot on the heels of his pop success with "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by a British group named Status Quo, Marshall Chess got the nifty idea of updating two celebrated blues figures on the Chess roster by immersing them in the hip(pie) new...
November 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Shoulda Been Home
Rykodisc
After his great success with 1999's Take Your Shoes Off, Robert Cray sticks on the soul side with his follow-up, Shoulda Been Home (Ryko 10611; 52:50). Again produced by Steve Jordan (the great drummer who has toured and recorded with everyone from John...
November 2001 By Bill Milkowski
Moanin' for Molasses
Landslide Records
Hotshot guitarist Sean Costello is back with his brand of exuberant, raucous, Chicago-styled blues on his third outing, Moanin' for Molasses (Landslide 1027; 44:02). The 22-year-old Atlanta resident is that rare item: a white boy with an authentic feel for...
