Blues Come Home to Roost

Super Chikan | Format: Audio Cassette

Product Details

• Audio Cassette (March 11, 1997)
• Label: Koch Entertainment D
• ASIN: B00000EW2M
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Chikan at his very best., July 27, 2000

By 

Bryan E. Newbury (Madison, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blues Come Home to Roost (Audio CD)

"Blues Come Home to Roost," James "Super Chikan" Johnson's Rooster debut, is a worthy reissue for many reasons. First, you will have to listen to A LOT of contemporary blues albums to come across writing this original, heartfelt, and humorous. Through the first five tracks, one will find himself grooving to Chikan's Mississippi-meets-Western Swing guitar style, one of the many hats he wore on this album. Chikan composed many of these songs while in the employ of a trucking company. Once he got home from his runs he would lay down all of the instruments to accompany the songs. As a result, the listener is treated to a work of uncompromising originality and personal history. Unlike many other performers nowadays, Chikan has his own sense of lyricism, avoiding the attractive yet overused AAB verse pattern. The best example of this is "Down in the Delta," a lyrical portrait of country life in the Mississippi that hits home with a combination of despair ("I've got a '71 Chevy & the dealer wants to take it from me") and optimism ("Everyting is fine/ Peachtrees are blooming, clothes hanging out on the line") so native not only to Mississippi, but all of the Deep South. Lyrical inventiveness and musical ability aren't the sole reasons Super Chikan stands out, though. Tracks 7 and 8 are musical humor worthy of Bobby Rush, with a freshness many can't touch. If you're a fan of smooth blues music, intelligent and occasionally whimsical lyrics and Southern culture, this album is not to be missed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Blues Stories From the Delta, May 21, 2010

By 

6 String Guy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blues Come Home to Roost (Audio CD)

Super Chikan - Blues Come Home To Roost

The review by Bryan Newbury is dead on and I can't add too much. Though Super Chikan is a nephew of Big Jack Johnson, the guitar pickin is not really the focus of this music. What this CD is about is stories. Stories about life, people and circumstances. Stories you can understand and maybe even relate to (particularly if you have spent time in or lived in the southern US). That is what makes this so special - the songs take the front position over the instruments and they are excellent. Few contemporary blues musicians can paint pictures so simply and vividly with their music as Super Chikan and that makes this a stellar CD worthy of the 5 star rating. Very engaging blues with a delta spirit. Unusual and recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly original in song, lyrics and playing!, June 9, 2001

By 

SIMON AGUILAR-GARCIA (Seattle, Wa. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blues Come Home to Roost (Audio CD)

Off beat lyrics sang with conviction and versatile guitar playing make Super Chikan "The only Rooster" in the current "henhouse" Blues scene! His Blues will also bring a smile to your face since they are not as sorrowful as many others, life has many things to feel good about! Play him often on The Crazy Coyote Blues Power Show 1490 KOTY AM (1490koty.com) Yakima Nation Reservation Radio in south central Washington state.