I first came across Wailin' Walker on a Peerless Music sampler, entitled
"Blues Party" which I also had the good fortune to review, so it is nice to be able
to look at a complete album from Wailin' Al Walker and his band.
The CD has 11 tracks, with all the songs written by Wailin' Walker except for
"It Takes Time" which is an Otis Rush song. Wailin' Al Walker also produced the album.
The CD starts off with "Crazy At Night", which is a riffy raunchy blues/rock song which
quite literary kick starts the album into full throttle. The album is not for the faint hearted, this album rocks. I loved "Blacktop Boogie" which is a swinging boogie piece with some great guitar from Al, Darryl Havers supplies some great piano work as well.
"Ride Away" is a rock tinged boogie which is quite melodic and heavy! I also like the
only cover song on the album, Otis Rush's "It Takes Time" with solid drumming from
Jerry Adolphe and some postive guitar playing from Al. "Not The Only One" is a rock
solid swayer with some good harmonica from Victor Polyk, I should mention Darryl Havers on organ as well, giving his all. "Love Starved Woman" features Jerry Cook on Sax, with Wailin' Al playing some superb guitar solo's, this song really swings. "What's Eatin' Ya Now" is a gutsy bluesy song with some good scratching guitar at the start from Al. "Eastbound Baby" brings the album to a swinging close.
If you like your blues, the rocking kind, then this is an album you will appreciate. The album is well produced and is solid all the way through, it is worth getting
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