Customer Reviews

The Come Back

5 star:		(3)
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All of these sides were recorded for United in 1952-54, and many of them were unissued at the time. The band Slim is working with here features two tenors and the great Matt Murphy on guitar, and is possibly the best he ever had. Murphy is a terrific guitarist - his fleet jazz runs are impressive as his blues dynamics. CALL BEFORE YOU GO HOME is a downhome classic, with great lyrics: "Call before you go home/The life you save may be your own." BACK ALLEY and LIVING THE LIFE I LOVE are also fantastic, with Slim's hauntingly plaintive vocals really setting the mood. Another gem is THIS IS MY LUCKY DAY - beautiful! Many of the issued sides have been released before on LP, but what makes this disc so special is all the unissued sides that are included: ONLY A FOOL HAS FUN, the instrumental SHUFFLEBOARD, NAT DEE SPECIAL, and COOL DOWN BABY (which also has Murphy on the vocal) to name just a few. These United sides are among the best things Memphis Slim ever recorded. Not all of them are here, but most of the previously unissued ones are, and that's a BIG plus. Definitely worth looking into.

Amazing compilation of early 50's sides featuring Matt Murphy on guitar. These recordings were relatively unavailable for years, and are a must for every blues/R&B-lover's collection.

It's interesting to compare these with his later "Folk Festival" persona -- these sides rock!

Do you like blues?

If you do, buy this album. It's essential. Memphis Slim is stunning on vocals and piano and Matt Murphy shows that he's a world class guitar player.

I rank this album way up there with "The essential early recordings" of Freddie King.