Customer Reviews

Boogie N Shuffle

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When I write reviews on some of the lesser known greats such as Mojo Buford, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Billy Boy Arnold, I feel like I am shouting from a deserted island far from ear shot. That feeling is reinforced when I see a sales rank of 223,648. Oh well, here goes.

Billy Boys new release is produced by Duke Robillard and Robillard and his band perform all of the back up music for the CD. The CD is a good combination of originals, some new some old, as well as a sprinkling of lesser known cover tunes from Ray Charles, "BlackJack" and "Greenback", Jimmy McCrackin, "Just Got To Know" and "Every Night Every Day", and T-Bone Walker.

As you might expect, Robillards band is in top form. The CD has everything from a little swing "Lets Work It out" to soulful blues "Just Got To Know" to a little boogie "Boogie and Shuffle".

The CD won't appeal much to fans of Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Stevie Ray Vaughan or any of the other blues/rock greats and that's a shame because this is the very music that got those greats interested in the blues. On the other hand, if you like Jimmy Rogers, Muddy Waters, James Cotton, the Wolf or any of the three Kings, this CD should be in your collection.

Most probably, I am not going to write reams of acolades about this superior feel good blues harmonica focused album. It's just...totally brilliant. Featureing Duke Robillard on guitar + a tight swinging band delivering just the right 'feels' on each song .For heavens sake just buy the darn thing you will treasure this one. Billy Boy Arnold is the best of the best in my humble opinion. How he is so under-acknowledged amazes me. As a professional blues singer songwriter and blues harmonica player he is up there with Muddy Waters, Little Walter and the legends of CHESS records with whom he recorded. Checkout the informative interview with him speaking of Chess, Bo Diddley and his inspiration and mentor John Lee Williamson 1 [whom he describes as the inspiration for Little walter and all harmonica players who followed besides Sonny Terry].It features after a minute at the end of the music. Every song is a gem and the tones are perfect. Oh by the way ANYONE will love this record...not just blues enthusiasts.