On the Chicago Blues Scene (Electric Sleep)

Sleepy John Estes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delmark
• ASIN: B000004BIN
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,399 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Ain't Gonna Sell It

2. Laura Had A Dream

3. Divin' Duck Blues

4. Walking Down Beale Street

5. Everybody Oughta Make A Change

6. Need More Blues

7. Drop Down Mama

8. Airplane Blues

9. How To Sing These Blues

10. Sweet Little Flower

11. May West

12. Easin' Back To Tennessee

13. Newport Blues

Editorial Reviews

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Electric narcosis. The 1967 Chicago meeting between country bluesman Estes, decades past his prime, and local modernists such as electric guitarist Jimmy Dawkins is the stuff of night mares. -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid Chicago Blues, April 4, 2002

By 

R. Suzuka (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Chicago Blues Scene (Electric Sleep) (Audio CD)

This album is of solid quality. The band members are Sleepy John Estes: vocals/ rhythm guitar, Sunnyland Slim: piano, Jimmy Dawkins: lead guitar, Odie Payne, Jr.: drums, Carey Bell: harmonica (bass on 2 tracks), Earl Hooker: bass (on 4 tracks), Joe Harper: bass (on remaining tracks).

From the line up, you will recognize many standard performers in the Chicago scene. While the performances here are good, there are no stand out performances. One could probably find many of these performers sounding more exceptional on some of their solo efforts or if not that then on a different album. Still, it's good listening and creates a good urban Blues mood througout.

The only downside is that Jimmy Dawkins' finger picking gets a little excessive and sometimes seems to cloud out the bands' groove. So in other words Mr. Dawkins could have held back a little and would have been fine just playing the fills and solos rather than the fills, solo's and chorus'.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars rare gem, better than expected..., June 27, 2006

By 

mitch shrader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electric Sheep (Audio Cassette)

While the tempo of this album lacks high points, it's a solid effort by all concerned. Several tracks are top shelf and none disappoint. To hear one of the original bluesmen incorporating electric instruments into traditional acoustic styles is unusual enough, but to hear it done effectively is nearly unique. The respect and attention Jimmy Dawkins has given to the originals brings the effort into collectible status. The authentic flavor contributed by Sleepy John Estes is a deliberate counterpoint ..

Four Stars, if you like either artist, and 5 stars if you are a collector. Unusual and worth owning!