Customer Reviews

Black & White Blues

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

 

 

This album originally came out in 1971 on Far Out Productions, an MGM label. It was titled "Guilty". Eric Burdon of "The Animals" fame teamed up with the blues legend Jimmy Witherspoon. When I first heard this in 1971 I was blown away, and it's still knocking me out. My favorite song is "Have Mercy Judge". I was probably under the influence at the time but damn was that song powerful. Well I haven't been under the influence since that time period and you know what? That song still kicks my .... The price of the cd is worth it for just that one song, but of course there is so much good music here. The band is good and the two blues men compliment each other nicely on vocals. If you like Eric, like I like Eric, you'll say, oh my god, Have Mercy on me Eric I can't stand it if it gets any better. Buy this cd and you'll be driving to work in the morning singing, "Have mercy, I'm in a world of trouble, being held by the Highway Patrol".

This CD is so well hidden, the folks who would want it are unlikely to find it (or realize what it is). This was originally released in '71 under the title "Guilty," & credited to Eric Burdon & blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon. The backing band on one track is War. It is a true collaborative effort by 'Spoon & Eric, who share & trade the vocals. As befits 'Spoon, it is pretty straight-ahead, no nonsense blues. Eric makes sure that the groove is more '70's than '40's, & 'Spoon keeps him honest.

Although the cover versions of The Laws Must Change (John Mayall), Have Mercy Judge (Chuck Berry) and the blues chestnut Goin' Down Slow are solid (James Taylor's Steam Roller Blues fared poorly), the highlights are the originals by 'Spoon & Eric. Especially noteworthy is the gospel-tinged finale, The Time Has Come, complete with Rev. James Cleveland Choir.

Eric Burdon has had a notoriously uneven career, ranging from inspired to insipid. This is great stuff.

This CD is so well hidden, the folks who would want it are very unlikely to find it (or realize what it is). This was initially released in '71 under the title "Guilty," and credited to Eric Burdon & blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon. The backing band on one track is War. It is a true collaborative effort by 'Spoon & Eric, who share & trade the vocals. As befits 'Spoon, it is pretty straight-ahead, no nonsense blues. Eric makes sure the groove is more '70's than '40's, & 'Spoon keeps him honest.

Although the cover versions of The Laws Must Change (John Mayall), Have Mercy Judge (Chuck Berry) and the blues chestnut Goin' Down Slow are good (James Taylor's Steam Roller Blues fared poorly), the highlights are the originals by 'Spoon & Eric. Especially noteworthy is the gospel-tinged finale, The Time Has Come, complete with Rev. James Cleveland Choir.

Great stuff.

Together with "Eric Burdon Declares War" (sept. 1970) and "Black Man's Burdon" (Jan. 1971) - both available on CDs (Eric Burdon Declares "War", The Black-Man's Burdon) "Black & White Blues" (re-issued under this title in 1976 only; originally released as "Gulty!" in 1971 - see the images) is one of the most accomplished albums of the singer, and perhaps the most desirable one.
The album was recorded not only in the studios, but on location - which was San Quentin Prison. The musicians were backed by San Quentin Prison Band featuring Ike White ob guitar, and the album itself was fortified by the poem of John Pence Wagner (written in cell 4-E-56).
Get it - if you can. And read the book also - calm, honest, great (Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.

Look no further. This is the genuine article. A great album. The recording quality on the live tracks may not be the best you'll ever hear, and Eric sings like he knows he's being outclassed by 'The Spoon', but this album still cuts it as a superb piece of blues. Highly recommended! :o)

The review above says that Jimmy Witherspoon died in 1970, before this album was released. That isn't true: Witherspoon was active well into the 90s, and died Sept. 18, 1997.

This is just about the best album I've ever heard. The slow electric blues of these two guys together is perfect. My favorite track is Soledad, which features vocals by both Witherspoon and Burdon. It's a shame they only did one record together.

These guys offer the best of the original blues and the 1960's blues revival in one album. One track, "Soledad", makes the album worth 5 stars, but there are a lot of good ones here. It would be reissued if anyone still remembered Eric Burdon without War or the Animals.

This is a CD re-issue of a previous vinyl recording, originally released in 1971, entitled "Guilty!" and produced by Jerry Goldstein for Far Out Productions-MGM. The album, besides the great Eric Burdon and Jimmy Witherspoon sharing and trading the vocals, includes studio musicians as well as members of the band War which, along with Jerry Goldstein's production, explains some sound similarities between this recording and those made by Eric Burdon with the above mentioned band War, specially their first one entitled "Eric Burdon declares War". Among the recorded songs are "Soledad", penned by Burdon after visiting the prison of the same name and inspired by what he witnessed there; "I've been driftin'-Once Upon a Time", "Have Mercy Judge", "Home Dream" and "Steam Roller' are my favorite tracks. The song "Goin' Down Slow" is a live recording in San Quentin State Prison, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and one of the inmates, Ike White, joined the band on stage singing and playing guitar. Great blues recording with some political criticism in the lyrics, which is dedicated to all California prison inmates.