Customer Reviews

Otis Spann Is The Blues

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you want blues piano this album is the best. The sound quality is excellent, very atypical for a 1960's album; you'll think you're in the studio with them. I bought the album in 2004 and it contains 6 additional tracks, all of which appear to be additional studio jams, but not necessarily from the same session. There is no information on the album or internet regarding these tracks, and the album doesn't even list the titles. Thus, the total album time is 73 min and well worth the price. If you want to hear absolutely great blues piano without a lot of accompanyment, this is the album to get.

I heard track 15 on Music Match. Had to buy the album. Was I suprised to get the CD and see only 10 songs listed. Put it in the CD player anyway, and there are 6 unlisted tracks on the CD.
Track 15 is my favorite-- pulsing piano blues. Makes me wish I could play the piano.
If you want good clean blues, with promiment soundstage and clarity for all instruments and vocals, I suggest this album.

The 6 extra tracks on "Otis Spann Is the Blues" and 7 extra tracks on Spann's "Walking the Blues" CD's give you everything that's been released from Spann's great 1960 session for Candid. The extra tracks were originally on the Japanese releases of these great CD's on the P-Vine label and on the limited-edition Mosaic box set, which also includes Lightnin' Hopkins' 1960 Candid session. The Mosaic set includes 6 unissued tracks by Lightnin' Hopkins that as far as I know haven't been released elsewhere.

The 6 extra tracks on "Otis Spann Is the Blues" are:

11. Spann and Bob (3:22)
12. Can't Stand Your Evil Ways (3:46)
13. Talkin' the Blues (5:46)
14. Baby Child (take 3) (4:30)
15. Cow Cow Blues (4:10)
16. Beat-up Team (1st version) (6:37)*

*This seems to be different song altogether from the originally issued version on the CD. If it is a different version it's a radically different one.

These are classic recordings by Otis Spann (my favorite blues pianist) and Robert Lockwood, Jr. (my favorite blues guitarist). You can't go wrong.

See my review of "Walking the Blues" for the unissued tracks included on that CD.

Wow, I just got Otis Spann Is The Blues, and Walking The Blues, and I love em both. Otis and Lockwood together is pure blues heaven. Actually pure music heaven. Their playing transcends genre and falls in the category of sheer musical genius. I can't pick a favorite song on Is The Blues. Walking The Blues is almost as powerful a project.,HAving more of a variety of vocals is enjoyable. St. Louis Jimmy Oden was on e wonderful singer. All in all, both discs are a piece of history, blues at it's purest and finest. Reccomended to all blues lovers.

This is pure, original blues with Otis Spann and Robert Lockwood Jr. Every track is a joy, but "Otis in the Dark" alone is worth many times the price of the CD. This is one of those albums that will still be deeply rich the hundredth time you listen, and you will continue to listen!

Too bad that Otis Spann died so young. He could have done so much more and been more of a legend. As it is, not too many people that are casual blues fans even know his name. I bought "Otis Spann Is The Blues" and listen to it over and over. He has an almost cosmic connection with his guitarist and there is one priceless cut on there where they talk all during the song...playing and never skipping a beat (!) just like old friends. It's charming and special. His songs about the hardship that he had gone through growing up brought tears to my eyes. He puts all of his heart and soul into the music. His piano style is powerful, clean, and with a driving bass beat. You couldn't ask for a better add to your blues collection.

This is similar to Spann's another great hit, "Walking the Blues". Those two albums are the good ones to start with.

Otis Spann,Memphis Slim,Little Brother Montgomery and Roosevelt Sykes are in my opinion the best blues piano players ever.
The best of them ? Maybe the young Otis.This CD is rich of blues mood,the interplay beetween piano and electric or acoustic guitar is perfect.Highly recommended.

In addition to great blues, there is the extra bonus of there being 16 tracks rather than the 10 listed on Amazon and on the CD itself. There is no information on the other 6 tracks but more blues is more blues. This is a great record (sorry for dating myself). One song after another - just sublime. Who would think that a piano player/singer and a guitar player/singer could put so much potency into their music without the usual band make-up. Every song is a killer. Otis Spann is just the greatest blues pianist ever. No one is in his league. The songs that feature just him on piano or just him on piano and vocal show how great his is. The songs that have the guitar accompanying him show that Robert Lockwood Jr. is a tremendous guitar player. Low key and understated but adding a dimension to the songs that sends them into the stratosphere. All I can say is that if you love the blues or want to explore the blues, you will be glad you bought this record.

This Otis Spann CD offers a fine album of piano blues. The only other musician is Robert Lockwood who provides additional highlights. Otis Spann shows his abilities with his barrel house piano style. My favourive Otis Spann album is 'The biggest thing since Colossus' also featuring Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac.