 Jimmy Witherspoon Like the blues in theory but can't find a blues album that avoids cliches? Here it is. Actually, most of the titles in Prestige Records' Original Blues Classics line deliver non-boring thrills and hip tunes, but Baby, Baby, Baby may be the best blues record I've found yet. Witherspoon has one of the smoothest deliveries of all blues singers, approaching Joe Williams but in a more straight-ahead blues context. This album finds him backed by players more commonly associated with jazz: Kenny Burrell on guitar, Leo Wright on alto sax, Jimmie Smith on drums, plus several other cats I hadn't heard of before. When jazz cats play the blues, you stands up and listens. Don't make me quote Carole King and lose all credibility. The album boasts two absolute classics in "Bad Bad Whiskey" and "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer," which Jimmy presents with great humor and sophistication. Most of the other tracks are just as good: "Mean Old Frisco" is a charging gospel blues Elvis would've loved (I suppose maybe he did love it, who knows, I really shouldn't speak for Elvis). "I'll Go On Living" and "It's a Lonesome Old World" will have you shaking your head and going "Yeah boy." A cover of the pop song "Endless Sleep" is kind of weird, but works. Blues purists might think that this album gets away from the essence of the blues, but I'm not sure I'd agree with that. I mean, unless the essence of the blues is to sing the same song over and over with different words. (Hear me, Chuck Berry?) Highly recommend this CD. It's a blues album that can be approached with no condescension and which you'll come away from a much better person. "Pay your dues, hear the blues," as Bluesy the Owl always says.
Review by Harold Potter |