Customer Reviews

Lone Star Shootout

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Not strictly a blues record, "Lone Star Shootout" brings together Lonnie Brooks, Long John Hunter and Phillip Walker for 63 minutes of blues, R&B, soul, rock n' roll, and a little bit of pop. And while "Lone Star Shootout" may be lacking in deep social messages, musically it is a true treat.

There are three numbers where all three go full tilt together, sharing lead vocals; the rest of the material varies in personnel, group and solo emphasis. Lonnie Brooks takes three solo lead vocals and a number of solos, Phillip Walker is the sole lead vocalist on four songs, and Hunter gets three. Guest star Ervin Charles plays lead guitar and sings on the slow soul/blues number "Born Down In Louisiana", and he shares lead vocals with John Hunter on a sturdy rendition of Muddy Waters' "Two Trains Running".

There are a number of slow blues and soul tunes here, but most of the fifteen songs are mid-tempo or faster. The highlights include a very obvious (but very good) Guitar Slim-pastiche titled "A Little More Time", a driving "Roll, Roll, Roll" sung by all three guitarists, the utterly charming 50s soul number "This Should Go On Forever", and the swaggering "Bon Ton Roulet", which features a great horn chart and Marcia Ball rolling the ivories.
Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff plays terrific harmonica on Lonnie Brooks' original "Feel Good Doing Bad", and Marcia Ball provides the wonderful piano solo on the funky New Orleans-R&B of "I Can't Stand It No More". And if this take on Lonesome Sundown's joyous piano boogie "You're Playing Hooky" doesn't make you want to dance, you might very well be dead.

Co-producer Bruce Iglauer's excellent liner notes deserve praise as well, and huge props go out to these three magical sixty-somethings. Blues musicians just seem to get better with age, don't they?

I`d like to compare this cd to others,but since its all star cast on this labels roster,that could be difficult.This is an extremely upbeat blues CD which would combine Horn and guitar driven blues.Concidering the 3 guitar assault not one of these blues vetereans tries to take over the stage.The incredible horn arrangements led by great session musician Kaz Kavinof is hard to beat.With only 2 ballads out of 15 tracks you can`t go wrong with this all-star blues lineup.This CD is a shoe-in for best blues collaboration come award time.

Three of today's blues authorities:Lonnie Brooks,Long John Hunter and Phillip Walker...shooting it out from the fretboard,with the confidence and rolling inspiration that only true masters of Texas Gulf Coast blues,Chicago school and R&B can.A 'magnificent three'blues summit that fails to disappoint.

If you like your blues raucus and raw, this is a must! The interactions between these longtime artists is both a fun ride and joy to the ear and the mind.

I`d like to compare this cd to others,but since its all star cast on this labels roster,that could be difficult.This is an extremely upbeat blues CD which would combine Horn and guitar driven blues.Concidering the 3 guitar assault not one of these blues vetereans tries to take over the stage.The incredible horn arrangements led by great session musician Kaz Kavinof is hard to beat.With only 2 ballads out of 15 tracks you can`t go wrong with this all-star blues lineup.This CD is a shoe-in for best blues collaboration come award time.

Having seen this trio at a Northhampton Ma.blues fest I just had to check out this recording.Alligator, you did it again!The most competant blues label today,put 3 of the best blues veterans together along with a horn section member Kaz Kavinov.This has got to be the most upbeat,downtown sound,that I have heard in about 10 years.Hoping to see this collaboration win some awards at the end of the year.

Having seen this trio at a Northhampton Ma.blues fest I just had to check out this recording.Alligator, you did it again!The most competant blues label today,put 3 of the best blues veterans together along with a horn section member Kaz Kavinov.This has got to be the most upbeat,downtown sound,that I have heard in about 10 years.Hoping to see this collaboration win some awards at the end of the year.

Having seen this trio at a Northhampton Ma.blues fest I just had to check out this recording.Alligator, you did it again!The most competant blues label today,put 3 of the best blues veterans together along with a horn section member Kaz Kavinov.This has got to be the most upbeat,downtown sound,that I have heard in about 10 years.Hoping to see this collaboration win some awards at the end of the year.

By the cover picture, I thought this CD would showcase lots of blues guitar. The music on the CD is good listening, but much of the music style is reminiscent of a big band-lots of horns and 50's style rifs. A much better CD by Lonnie is "Roadhouse Rules".

I think Long Star Shoot Out was great.I really love the solo song born in Lousiana by: Ervin Charles. It's was a great here in Texas and PortBarre,La.
It's REALLY takes you back to wear we come from. Also another great hit on that album is Two Trains Running "Awesome". SHOUT
out to a really great album.