Customer Reviews

Lonesome in My Bedroom

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the quality of snake-playing of johnson is quite unique. it gives all the desired feelings of standard relaxing boggie and soul reaching solos with the refinement of a mature electric guitar. The title song, lonesome in my bedroom reflects his capabilities of getting the listner down to desired blue condition and healing at the same time. The 'long distance call' track is rather another face of johnson which reflects a sarcastic view of a sad man who deals upright bravely with his conditions, which i think is what blues is all about. I would further recommend the 'mud in your ears' record featuring muddy watrers and luther johnson, there also you feel taken with the guitar playing of johnson without even knowing it, he drives you down to his emotional status.

There have been no fewer than three Luther Johnsons playing the blues in recent years.

Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson (also known as "Snake Boy") played for a while with Elmore James and was a regular fixture in the Muddy Waters band during the 60s, before dying from cancer in March, 1976, the year after this album was released. He was just 41.

"Lonesome In My Bedroom" finds Johnson backed by a terrific combo...Howlin' Wolf's (and everybody elses) drummer Fred Below, guitarist Lonnie Brooks, bassist Dave Myers, harpist Mac Simmons, and the highly capable Willie Mabon (a notable solo artist in his own right) at the piano. And the great Hubert Sumlin plays guitar on two selections.

Johnson is obviously influenced by Muddy Waters, but this is not a second-rate carbon copy of a Muddy album. His taut guitar playing and dry vocals are very much his own, and the originals "They Call Me The Popcorn Man", "Lonesome In My Bedroom" and the irresistably groovy "Rock Me Slow And Easy" are among the very best songs here.

Johnson also gives a highly personal reading of "Hush Hush", and gives Chuck Berry a run for his money on "Little Queenie". And while Willie Mabon and harpist Little Mac Simmons steal a lot of the spotlight with some wonderful performances, the entire band is stellar all the way through.

The quality dips once or twice along the way, but over all "Lonesome In My Bedroom" is a very enjoyable album, one which fans of Muddy Waters-styled electric blues should give a listen. 3 3/4 stars.