Customer Reviews

In a Heavy Bag

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I discovered this obscure album a couple years ago in a former bandmate's collection, and it's nice to have this finally reissued on CD with great remastered sound quality. Originally recorded in 1969, this rockin' little album by blues legend Lowell Fulson {spelled here as Fulsom} is an entertaining departure from the smooth, polished urban blues that Fulson recorded in the 1950's. This is funky, swampy blues-rock played with fun and energy by Lowell and the band with a couple of songs featuring some psychedelic wah wah pedal guitar.

"Lady in the Rain", "Trouble Everywhere", "Cheatin Woman", and "Sleeper" are among the best tunes, but the track that stands out above all the rest is Lowell's raw and gritty version of "Why don't we do it in the road" that rocks harder and better than the Beatles' recording! Lowell belts the song out with a gutsy vocal performance as the band tears into a down and dirty groove.

In a Heavy Bag clearly shows that Lowell Fulson could rock the blues when he wanted to. Also included on this CD are three decent bonus tracks recorded around the same time. If you like your blues on the rockin' side, give this fun little album a try.

I don't quite know what the producers of this thing had in mind-I guess trying to recast Lowell (with his name misspelled, no less)as a funky rocker. I guess they saw the success of Albert King. "Why Don't We Do It In The Road" does work as a blues/funk number. Nowhere near as ridiculous as the Big Maybelle rock album I reviewed earlier. A different version of "Sleeper" was kind of a regional hit for Fulson. He tried about everything during a career stretching from the 30's to the 80's, everything from Nat "King" Cole's jazz trio style, to Lightnin' Hopkins Texas blues (most of his recordings), soul ballads, gospel,a bit of neo-country, to whatever you call what's in this "bag".

THIS IS AN OKAY, KIND OF MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD BLUES ALBUM RECORDED BY LOWELL FULSOM IN 1969, NOT NEARLY ANYWHERE AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL STUFF HE RECORDED ON THE CHESS LABEL IN THE 1950'S (STUFF LIKE "RECONSIDER BABY"). LOWELL FULSOM RECORDED MUCH BETTER STUFF EARLIER IN HIS CAREER.