CD Review
Little Charlie
and The Nightcats
"Shadow of the Blues"
(Alligator ALCD 4862)
by Peter Meyer
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Rick Estrin continues to be the most prolific and innovative blues songwriter since Willie Dixon. His lyrics are always sharp and humorous. What amazes me most is how he puts a new spin on an old idea as in, "When Your Woman Is Gone," where mourns love lost, to "New Old Lady" in which he sings about his girlfriend eyeing his other girlfriend's man. Highlights of this album are the slow blues title track and "Dirty Dealin' Mama" in which he pokes fun at one of his other songs.
Shadow of the Blues is not just an Estrin highlight - Little Charlie Baty's singing swinging guitar dazzles on just about every track. He really gets to show off on "Got It Good" - a medium tempo instrumental. This album also features the return of Ronnie James Weber on bass, who was lured back to the band by "the bait", June Core on the drums. All in all, this is another great album in a string of great albums (have they had a bad one?) from Little Charlie & The Nightcats.
This review is copyright © 1999 by Peter Meyer, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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