Customer Reviews

Kidney Stew Is Fine

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

this is a great CD from Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, recorded in 1969 (on the Delmark label out of Chicago)with T Bone Walker, Jay McShann, and Hal Singer. This guy sure knew how to belt out the blues, and played a pretty mean sax, too. Cleanhead had been recording since the late 40's, and I guess you would have to categorize his earlier stuff as "jump blues", similar to Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Joe Turner. Anyway, this CD holds up and you will enjoy it a lot.

Never heard of Cleandhead?? It's time you had. And if you do know who he is, then you already own this album. I'd say this is second only to "Cleanhead and Cannonball", and it's prime Cleandhead. People are always ranting about Muddy Water's voice, but this guy has it in spades. And he plays sax!!
Check it out.....

Its nice to have this recording again readily available on CD. I would not call this an essential release (saving that for some of his original sessions), but it is certainly a most enjoyable session that originally was issued on the French Black & Blue label. The session had the shouter-alto saxophonist with an all star band that included Jay McShann on piano, T-Bone Walker on guitar and tenor saxophonist Hal 'Cornbread' SInger. Its a good mix of classic songs that Cleanhead made famous like the title track, 'Somebody's Sure Got to Go', 'Juice Head Baby,' Big Bill Broonzy's 'Just a Dream,' 'Old Maid Boogie,' along with Joe Turner's 'Wee Wee Baby,' Percy Mayfield's 'Please Send Me Someone to Love,' and Duke Ellington's 'Things Ain't What They Used to Be.' Vinson is in terrific form both vocally and instrumentally and the band swings wonderfully for a most enjoyable session that is welcome to be readily available.

This is slightly revised and corrected review of what appeared in the March-April 2007, Jazz & Blues Report (www.jazz-blues.com)

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson is on top of his game with this CD!! These are some of the funkiest, down-home blues out there!! I also love the other tunes like Somebody's Got To Go!, Juicehead Woman, etc! Great Blues CD!

Doug Earley

Don't even think about this one. Cleanhead has a way of sounding authentic and fresh at the same time. Highly recommended, you could very well argue for 5 stars but it sounds so new that I would wait a few more years before I deemed it classic, but it is inevitable that this one will be in the hall of fame.

A great recording by Eddie Vinson with an all star band including Jay McShann, T Bone Walker and Hal Singer. Cleanhead tended to repeat himself songwise on rcords, but with this band it's allright.Nice clean sound on this too. Man, could he sing. Easily one of the best voices in blues music. Sure miss him!