CD Review
Percy Strother
"Home At Last"
Black & Tan label (B&T 002)
by Gordon Baxter
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"Home At Last" is Percy Strother's debut for the Dutch Black & Tan label (B&T 002). It's essentially a tribute album on which Strother tips his hat to those who have musically influenced him over the years. Most of the songs were written by fellow Mississippians (Strother hails from Vicksburg, MS) who moved North and recorded for Chess -- the bulk of the material was written by Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Willie Dixon. The arrangements are all pretty straight, embellished by Strother's powerful rich Southern-Soul voice, which is backed by a European band. Particularly outstanding are the title track, and the rollicking version of Little Willie John's "Take My Love," both of which benefit from the sax work of Arend Bouwmeester. The overall feel here is one of R&B, in contrast to the Blues/Soul feeling that pervades most of Strother's other recordings. Nevertheless, "Home At Last" is a fine album measured by any standards.
Percy Strother: www.visi.com/~pls/index.html
Black and Tan records: www.black-and-tan.com
This review is copyright © 1999 by Gordon Baxter, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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