By Any Other Name... [This is review is part of my 31 days of Halloween series.]
The only thing that really qualifies as Halloweeny about this CD is its name HOODOO MAN Blues. Hoodoo cross-cultures with Voodoo at certain points, but is a separate expression of Americana folk magic/ritual. It is very focused on "tying" or "binding." Unlike Voodoo, Hoodoo is not strictly speaking, Africa-based. Of coutse if JWcalled the CD Voodoo Man Blues it would have entirely a different connotation.
Back to this CD: The production values & remastering are abolutely fantastic. It is part of the Delmark's Roots of Jazz series that includes other notable performers Curtis Jones, Edith Wilson, Little Walter,etc.
Junior Wells has a great voice & plays a mean harmonica. He is accompanied by other first class musicians Budy Guy (Guitar), Jack Meyers (Bass) and Billy Warren. The original LP was all recorded in an amazing TWO DAYS in 1965. Today it would probably take at lrast 2 months. All the songs are upbeat, boogie-woogie & really kick a--.
I'm sure this and other music had an influence on Bob Dylan's evolution from traditional (but always original)folk music to his reincarnation as a folk rock & something more musician--and who plays a mean harmonica too. Like Junior Wells, Dylan by necessity was a troubador too, always on the move. A harmonica travels light.
Other Amazon reviewers know a lot more about the genre (R&B) than do I & their postings are well worth reading.
At Newport Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Muddy Waters The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions Live in Cook County Jail Let's Roll
The Skeleton Key (Widescreen Edition)
HOODOO MAN BLUES by Junior Wells HOODOO MAN BLUES by Junior Wells is a GREAT blues album. If you like Chicago electric blues, you've GOT to have this CD! The CD also has some out-takes that were never on the original album. These are great too. Junior Wells is my favorite bluesman of all time. His harp playing is fantastic as are his vocals. I almost forgot to mention that Buddy Guy plays absolutely fantastic guitar on this album!
HOODOO VOODOO A great collection of songs by one of the great blues harmonica players, backed up by legendary musicians. If I recall the LP album back cover of this (or the other essential Junior Wells album "It's My Life, Baby!") had this story: Junior worked to save up for a harmonica at a pawn shop, at the end of the week he was 25 cents short, so at the shop he picked up the harmonica and ran out. Caught and brought before a judge Junior's defense was "I just had to have it." The judge asked if he could play it, which Junior did causing the judge to rule in Junior's favor - case dismissed. Don't know if this is a true story but I'd have bought it for him myself. My thanks to the judge and my thanks to Junior! (ps. I no longer have the albums. If anyone does have the LPs please verify the judge story.)
BLUES ROCKS THE FULL LENGTH.....
I dig the blues man, but I don't tend to review blues albums very much, unless there is something about the album in particular that stands out. HOODOO MAN BLUES by Junior Wells, which infamously includes legend Buddy Guy on lead guitar is one such blues album. As a fan, primarily of good, hard hitting, sleazy gutter rock and roll, as well as blues, this album brings alot of things together for me that make it a solid LP of straight ahead ballsy rock. An album that prides itself in being the very first Chicago Blues LP ever, it definately is one of the best. It was recorded at a time in the early sixties before the British Invasion revived the blues and the market for American blues was pretty much dead. Most of the blues market was either recording styles leaning towards acoustic folk or more of an r&b style. Even most of your down and dirty blues rockers of the forties and fifties were dulling down. But Junior Wells put together his best band ever, featuring Buddy Guy, who is now legendary for being the influence behind a bunch of guitar rockers... like Duane Allman, and most notably, his direct influence on Jimi Hendrix. This is timeless blues, that could in no way be considered dated or old fashioned either then or now. In fact this is probably one of the sleaziest, riffiest, ballsiest records of the early sixties, and is def a must if you like slick sounding, jagged edged, kick ace music. Every song rocks... A blues album album.
Harmonica mania! Junior Wells is one of the premier harmonica players ever to his the blues circuit, and this definitely shows off his talent. Very nice to have Buddy Guy playing guitar along side Junior. If you like Little Walter and Muddy Waters, Junior Wells fits in right along side of them, having replaced Little Walter in Muddy's band after Walter left. Highly recommended to any blues lover!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
