Very few times when you come across a compilation CD can you say that every cut is good. This CD is one of the few. This is a very well selected group of cuts from a well-rounded group of R&B artist. This projects offers 12 cuts. None jump out and kill you, but all keep you in the game with cuts like "The BO Hawg Grind" sung by Barbara Carr and "Doctor Thrill Good" sung by Lee Shot Williams. One artist, Ollie Nightingale offers a great horn arraignment on cuts "I'm Ready To Party" and "Café Women."
This is a very clean group of tunes lacking the traditional screaming "B.B. King style" guitar solo's you find in most R&B and blues CD's. What this CD excels at is well-performed music with some nice arraignments that keep flowing from one song to the next. Rufus Thomas turns the "Big Fine Hunk Of Women" into a jump up and dance feeling that comes to life at the end when the cut ends and your find out the song was recorded live. If Rufus comes to your town definitely go out and see his act.
I would have liked to hear Barbara Carr let loose with her vocals. She sounds like she can push a song into your heart and make you beg for a breath, but she stays very reserved on her two cuts. The most down to earth blues tunes on the project are "The Fireman" performed by Chuck Roberson and "Over At Fannie Mae's" performed by Charles Wilson. Bill Coday offers two nice cuts to round out this very well put together CD. All the artists are worth seeing live and worth investing in their own personal projects to add some good listening to your CD collection. Pick up Juke Joint Saturday Night. And enjoy
Click Here to see the full length albums by these artists.
E-mail: ecko@eckorecords.com
Go to the Ecko Records webpage for more information and ordering: http://www.eckorecords.com/
5242 Helene Cove, Memphis, TN 38117 Phone: 901-761-7197
This review is copyright © 1999 by Philip Vaughan, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
4/16/99