Customer Reviews

About Them Shoes

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hubert Sumlin is a star in his own rights having shared the spotlight as Howlin' Wolf's lead guitarist from 1956 to 1976. Sumlin's flashy guitar work has been credited with influencing the work of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well along in years, some of the stars that he influenced return to help produce a great release to kick of 2005. The guests include Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and harpist Paul Oscher. The band also benefits from Muddy Waters guitarist Bob Margolin and David Maxwell on piano. The tunes are covers of songs written by Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. Everything about the CD is first rate.

This sounds like a long-lost Chess treasure from about '62. Hubert calls in some favours from people who took (and ran with)what he laid down working with The Wolf and Muddy all those years ago. Some of the other 'originals' from that era shine here too but it's Keith Richards for me who shows the spirit of Chicago is still alive and well - albeit with an English accent that's more Southend than Southside. The producers of this CD (great sound!) should now get Hubert and Keith back in the studio with just two acoustic guitars and a stand-up bass player. These are good times for septugenarians; see John Mayall's recent offering, also featuring Eric Clapton. So buy this CD and read Moanin' at Midnight (James Segrest, Mark Hoffman) as you listen - you'll find out how Hubert learned to play.

THE highlight of the disc is the final track and the only one featuring Hubert on vocals - he does a wonderful acoustic guitar interplay with Keith on a self-penned tune. Interesting that this is the highlight - as the theme of the (rest of the) album is Muddy Waters tunes.

The only problem, per se, with the rest of the album is that it only makes you (at least, me) wanna play the originals....none of these even sniff the greatness of the Muddy originals. In that respect, it reminds me alot of Jimmy Rogers' final album, Blues Blues Blues...a fine album (and one that also features Keith -- and Mick -- on 3 tracks)...but nothing ground-breaking. Both nice listens.

Keith turns in a serviceable vocal on Still a Fool (but, really he's not much of a blues singer). Clapton probably comes off the best among the vocal performers (aside from Hubert). Other nice vocal contributions by Blondie Chaplin, David Johansen and others.

Hubert's leads steal the show, here, though. If you're expecting some wicked guitar from Keith, you'll be disappointed. He's here as a sideman on three tracks - nice, but nothing special.

I knew from the opening notes of track one that I was going to really enjoy this album, Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready" is one of those toe-tappers that gets everybody onto the dance floor, and when you have sidemen like Eric Clapton and Levon Helm and steady-rollin' Bob Margolin, how can you miss?

Then comes track two, the most riveting Keith Richards performance in recent memory in a dark north-Mississippi-style rendition of Muddy Waters' "Still A Fool." This one has a broken bourbon bottle in one fist and your throat in the other, Sumlin plays lead, Stones sideman Blondie Chaplin is on bass and George Receli on drums, and Keith Richards' husky, moaning vocals bring this tale of adultery and guilt to life. Legend has it that Sumlin developed his finger-picking style after Howlin' Wolf complained that Sumlin was playing too loud, wait 'til you hear the positively spooky fingerstyle solo that closes this song.

Paul Oscher's harmonica is on many tracks and it sounds like blues harp is supposed to, like an old Green Bullet mic wired up to a Fender Champ with the volume on eleven. The whole album has a thick, reverb-laden sound, it was actually recorded on vintage analog equipment.

Clapton does a stinging version of "Long Distance Call," all the pop smaltz over the years can't disguise that the blues is where Clapton feels at home. It must be something for Sumlin to see some of the giants of rock line up to play songs like "The Same Thing" and "Don't Go No Further" with him. But then Jimi Hendrix told Sumlin on first meeting, "I've been waiting all my life to play with you, man."

There is just a hint of studio chatter before and after some songs, lots of laughter, these guys were having a good time. "This Is The End, Little Girl," an acoustic number with just Sumlin, Keith Richards and Paul Nowinski on bass leaves Sumlin literally giggling with delight.

This album was delayed for years due to contractural quicksand and even the bankruptcy of a label. And then came Sumlin's 2002 diagnosis of lung cancer followed by a heart attack and stroke, but he's still with us and shows every sign of not going quietly.

I wonder what happened to the tracks with the other stars who participated, James Cotton, Kim Simmonds, Susan Tedeschi among others, maybe their contributions didn't survive the legal foolishness that kept this release in limbo for so long. I would love to see Volume II appear someday once the lawyers have finished adding up their billable hours.

This CD is is great from start to finish. I bought this by giving it a listen at book store, and I was hooked ever since.

very pleased with the new Hubert Sumlin CD, About Them Shoes. been a big fan of his due to his assn w/ Howlin Wolf and will be
seeking out more of his stuff.

Side-man to Howlin' Wolf, Hubert Sumlin comes across with class and grace that you'll only find in "the old school". With guest guitar sharks Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Bob Margolin, along with a variety of greats like James Cotton, David Maxwell and various rythym section personnel; Mr. Sumlin plays lead on every track and brings home a delightfully strong production that is rare these days. This should be a must have for anyone ate-up with the blues.

I don't usually go for remakes of classic recordings, or all-star bands, but this set is exceptional. The songs come alive with great performances from every player. No filler here, with strong production. Hubert burns. Highly recommended.

The title to this review is 'nuff said...
Thie CD is timeless.
I can't add much more...if you are reading these reviews,you already know the blues,so make haste thine and don't waste time and GET THIS CD, FINE!!!!!

This guy was Howlin' Wolf's favorite guitarist and he is a legend! Not his best stuff since he did that working for Howlin Wolf but how can you not own what Hubert Sumlin puts out!

Hubert, you are a God!