Customer Reviews

Live at Theresa's 1975

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

 

 

This CD is a great companion to "Junior Wells: On Tap". On Tap was the first blues album I bought (on vinyl) around 1980 and it inspired me to play blues harp. I never saw Junior play at Theresa's but I saw his performances at many other venues, often with Buddy Guy. The combination of the songs and speaking on this album make you feel like you're in the audience. Junior's rendition of "Juke" sounds like Little Walter or Carey Bell playing live on Maxwell Street! In many ways, this recording captures the essence of Junior Wells, a true blues legend who died before his time.

Junior Wells' "Live at Theresa's 1975" should grow into a classic live blues recording because it gives you the heart and soul of a live blues performance: great music, great songs, and great patter.

Theresa's was a popular Chicago blues spot in 1975, and it served as one of the chief hangouts of blues harmonica great Wells when he was in town. On the record, he's definitely in his element: laughing, joking, and working the room. The music is great, and Wells' gritty, raw-edged vocals heighten the flaovr of the live performance.

This is a great live recording of an genre, and one that will be fondly remembered.

This is a great live blues album. The sound quality is pretty good and the venue is small enough to give you a good sense of what it would have been like to see Junior is a club. This album finds junior in his prime (which was quite a while) and feeling comfortable with his environment.

For more great live Junior Wells check out Buddy Guy's Smolin' TNT and Drinking Dynamite (which is just as much a Junior album as it is a Guy album). For great studio work check out Hoodoo Man Blues, which may be one of the finest studio blues albums ever made.

Given his catelog and this album,it got me thinking that may be Junior is a little (or a lot)under rated. He was one of the best and this album is proof of that. Enjoy.

Other reviewers here have said it as well or better than I can say it so I'll brief. I just had to add my two cents in saying that this is an excellent experience in raw live blues. It feels like you're there, especially when you crank it up a bit on a home stereo or on headphones/earbuds. The music itself is some great 70s blues but it's the between-song banter and the intimate crowd sounds that really give this album it's ambiance and it's life.

The recording quality is not exactly high-fi, and I considered docking the 5th star but then it's the low-fi feel that only contributes to the grit and the immediacy in this performance.

A good live blues album featuring Junior Wells. The version of Key to the Highway on this CD is my favorite. If you want to know what it sounds like to be at a live blues gig in Chicago in the 70's then buy this album. However, if you want a live album with good sound quality and performance I would recommend Junior Wells Live at the Golden Bear instead, as he performs better on that CD in my opinion.

I enjoyed every minute of this cd, feels like you there at the club relaxing with a beer and some friends...can't help but smile.