CD Review
Big Bill Morganfield
"Rising Son"
Blind Pig Records (BPCD 5053)
by Dick Houff
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1999 KBA Award Winner Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by the Blues Foundation
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As far as debut discs go, this one is top drawer in my stable. It’s very rare indeed, for a young man or woman to pick up the banner of tradition and keep the flame burning. Especially if you choose to earn your money as a bluesman or woman. It’s a hard life and the rewards are few. Big Bill Morganfield turned his back on a teaching career, and picked up a guitar in 1983, devoting countless hours of study. The music is the truest form of black culture dating back to the turn of the century, and Bill did his homework. The preservation and care for this particular form of music is extremely important, and Morganfield comes through like a lightening bolt on this outing. I would also like to point out that Bill is the son of the blues giant Muddy Waters—one of the first bluesmen to plug-in, and one of the founding fathers of the Chicago Blues sound. Now, most people would say, that Bill has some big shoes to fill in regards to his father. Well, I’m happy to report; that you needn’t worry. Big Bill is his own man with his own sound, and on this groundbreaking CD he doesn’t have to prove a thing. There are 12 tracks and 6 originals—I prefer his own work over the covers. My personal favorites are track 2: Left Hand Blues / 5: Dead Ass Broke / 12: Rising Son—check out the slide attack! Of course, the covers are equally brilliant—especially the arrangement and revamping of his father’s song, Champagne & Reefer—with additional lyrics! And the backup; four former members of the Muddy Waters band: Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin on guitar, Pinetop Perkins on piano, Paul Oscher on harmonica, and Willie Smith on drums. Robert Stroger is the bass player and needs no introduction—he’s well seasoned and knows his stuff. This one gets 5 stars from yours truly.
This review is copyright © 1999 by Dick Houff, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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