Living Chicago Blues 4

Living Chicago Blues (Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B000000A25
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,766 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #95 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Chicago Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the most authoritative reflection of Chicago blues, May 24, 2005

By 

Tim Holek - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living Chicago Blues 4 (Audio CD)

VARIOUS
Living Chicago Blues Vol. IV
Alligator ALCD 7704

Nowhere has blues been so transformed as in Chicago. To this day, gritty, electric blues fills its night air. Alligator's Living Chicago Blues series is "all about exposing Chicago blues talent to new audiences". The hope was blues would "not be resigned to mere history". As a minimum, each volume features four artists with session players as historically rich as the recordings themselves. They are obscure, unknown, and not originally from Chicago. However, Volume IV contains some of the city's best vocalists, guitarists, harpists, and pianists. It features the most diverse songwriting, and unfortunately, the greatest number of deceased artists. At the time of these recordings, none of these real deal musicians were big names in the blues. After you listen to this bona fide album, it will be harder to come to grips with the fact they still aren't.

Amos Milburn was Detroit Junior's idol. His "half-sing half-talk" vocal style features on his selections. With only occasional rattling piano, "If I Hadn't Been High" is homey, and speaks to the men. Saxophones ignite Junior's upper register on "Some Nerve". Minor key blues, when performed on piano, creates a whole new sub-genre. As proof, listen to "Somebody To Shack". Using a contented rhythm, it tells a story. Instrumentation isn't important or necessary here. West side guitar is defined as "alternating stinging single-note leads with powerful, distorted chords". Listen to Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, best known for his seven year stint with Muddy Waters, perform it to a tee. Strong rhythm, as on "Look What You Done" is Johnson's essential magic as well. On "Just Like Mama Said", Willie Smith gets slap happy on drums while Johnson sounds like Otis Rush. This is the style of blues I originally fell in love with.

The departed artists begin with Queen Sylvia Embry. She had everything to be "Chicago's next great blues woman". The way she spits out the words force you to listen, and pay attention because he commands it. Her exemplary vocals and mighty guitarists on "Going Upstairs" are the album's surprise smash, while Dino Alvarez is the disc's most impressive drummer. Big Leon Brooks idolized Little Walter. These remarkable recordings feature Brooks recovering from serious heart and lung problems, and sounding like Junior Wells. "Blues For A Real Man" accurately describes all the music on this album. "Country Boy" stresses the importance of family and a simple life. Brooks' and Embry's brilliant bands are the most rounded. Andrew Brown's versatility allowed him to gig at cocktail lounges, black social club dances, and basement bars. With soul-swooning vocals and Albert King guitar licks, Brown creates a deep trance on the omnipotent "I Got News For You". Definitely another uncovered treasure.

There are four volumes in the Living Chicago Blues series. Originally issued in the late '70s on six LPs, every song in the collection has been put onto four CDs, each lasting over an hour long. Until a more modern series of recordings is made, these four premium samplers remain the most authoritative reflection of Chicago blues. Volume IV is one of those desert island discs that your CD player won't want to eject. However, you should get any of them as fast as you can. If you've never been to a Chicago blues bar, any of these CDs will let you know what you are missing.

--- Tim Holek