Customer Reviews

Official Music

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

 

 

I bought this record when I was in high school in 1970. It was a very influential record for me. Richard Newell (King Biscuit Boy) is one of the best blues singers that you have never heard of. He also plays a mean harmonica. If you like blues you will like this record!!! Buy it now! If I'm wrong, you know my name.

If you like your Southern baked blues powdered heavily with red pepper then this mixture is for you: programmed with class, including respectful, and cookin', tributes to Little Richard (an excellent hit-worthy take of his legendary B-side, "I'm Just a Lonely Guy" - no it's not based upon the overdubbed album version with the bubble-gum girl group); his protege, Otis Redding ("Shout Bamalama"); John Lee Hooker & Jerry Lee Lewis ("Biscuit Boogie" - a revamped, apparent head-arrangement on "I Wanna Bugaloo"/"I've Been Twistin'" - the result is so spectacular, it seems that the drummer just rests his sticks while he enjoys the proceedings - not many in-studio videos were shot then - too bad there's no DVD component here, if a camera was rolling!); Elmore James ("Key to the Highway"); even James Brown ("Badly Bent" - a terrific lyric to which KBB throws in some JB-style utterances - the song itself and the vocal are somewhat reminiscent of Brown's 1962 sardonic muse, "I've Got Money").
This dude can play a wordclcass harmonica, besides pitching in on git-box.
Small complaint: the music is a little too compressed, so the fidelity doesn't lend as great to differentiating the instruments. Sorry, fans, can't reach a *5* as a result.
Oh yeah, fans on Willie Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson, bend an ear. Also Richard Newell. (That boy from Arkansas).

I bought this for my husband who is a huge King Biscuit Boy and Crowbar fan. This album doesn't disappoint the hard-core rock-and-roll good 'ol boys out there. So pop in the CD, crank it up and roll through the neighborhood enduring the frowns and stares of people who aren't nearly as cool as you!

I first heard this album about 15 years ago when I was lent a copy as part of my blues education. I've been looking for a copy ever since. Although I like almost all types of blues I particularly have time for hard driving Rhythm & Blues. This is about as good as it gets. I've purchased some other King Biscuit Boy albums but they don't have the energy of this one. Not having this one in my collection has been a waste of 15 years.

This is an honest recording of songs overflowing with pure music power. The production of these studio sessions is raw and manages to capture that special energy, tone and magic ususally found during those rare live gigs when everything is going right. These songs will draw you in. 'Official Music' is a refreshing break from high tech perfectionism. A classic "must have" for your blues collection.