Customer Reviews

Stand Back Here Comes

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blues albums to emerge from the 1960s. Charlie Musselwhite had been paying his dues back in the '60s on the South Side of Chicago, learning from the Blues Giants and doing session work with the likes of John Hammond and Tracy Nelson, but he really emerged as a FORCE and a TALENT with this album. Musselwhite just shows impeccable instincts, and the result is something rare: a white who plays the blues in an overwhelmingly convincing way. Listen to "Strange Land" or "Baby Won't You Please Help Me" and you will sense NOTHING trivial, and much that is deeply moving, about this music. A real hidden talent on this CD is Harvey Mandel on guitar--the man was and is a creative genius, bringing his own style of feedback and sustain--a highly idiosyncratic manner--to a pure understanding of the blues. I have had this album/CD for over 30 years, and when I play it today, I can still feel the fresh drive, energy, and authenticity that startled me when I first bought it back in 1967 (?).

This is Charlie's debut and simply a killer. If you are blues fanatic such as I am, this is a must for your collection. The styling is much like Paul Butterfield's early work. Charlie is a master of the instrument and blues. This is an excellent place to start. I highly recommend all of Charlie's sets, but this is the place to start. Pure Chicago blues at it's finest. This is a must.

I bought this record when it first came out and have listened to it consistently since then. It's one of the real classics, in the same group as the 1st generation Chicago blues classics - a desert island record. Great blues has a soul that all fans can identify - this record has that soul to burn. And burn it does, mostly. The singing, harmonica and guitar work are peerless - equalled by electrified white bluesmen only a few times, for example, in the first two Paul Butterfield Blues Band records and maybe parts of John Hammond's "I Can Tell." Harvey Mandel's guitar solo on 4PM makes my hair stand on end (the longest bent note in the blues!), even after almost 40 years. Charley's hard driving vocal style and aggressive harp fills and solos against that solid simple back beat are the essence of hard rocking.

My favorite Musselwhite story - at a rock festival in 1970 filled w/ hippie comunards, somewhere in rural Oregon, Charley, with slicked back short hair and a white short sleeve shirt surveys the frolicing multitudes - swirling, colored clothes, flowing long hair everywhere, wildly high, like a chemically enhanced group of 18th century utopians at an outdoor picnic- looks at the audience - knowing how incongruous his blue collar band must look, and growls, "SOMEbody got to play the blues." So true. He did. The harp wailed and the crowd went wild. He rocked then and he rocks now.

If you like real South Side of Chicago blues, this is what you need to buy .

After just hearing of Charlie Musselwhite recently , I decided to listen to some clips of his CD's and , by far, this first recording with the South Side Band is his BEST ever . This was recorded in the mid-60's when he and his band members were very young - this band is so tight that you will marvel at how seasoned they sound .

The talent on this CD is easily worth twice the price .
Charlie Musselwhite is an outstanding blues harmonica player . True soul and passion emanates from his harp. Harvey Mandel on guitar , of Canned Heat at Woodstock fame ,is one of the best ever - his style is very unique and reminiscent of Hendrix, using a lot of sustain on the notes . Barry Goldberg is on keyboards - he played with Mike Bloomfield and he and Harvey are members of the Chicago Blues Reunion , along with Nick Gravenites , Tracy Nelson and Samy Lay . I also highly recommend that CD .

attention blues lovers, stand back is fresh and hard and real in 2005 as in 1967. this album has magic as it captured a real and lasting feel for the blues.the harp and electric guitar and organ were meant for each other. musselwhite vocals are in top form for crying the blues. if you collect blues music, this is the leader of the pack...and blues is my main music...graffitiglenn

Precision Vocals, Instrumentals, and no match anywhere, anytime. Picked up my first copy in 1967 and really did go through about 5 vinyl records before acquiring my current CD that Charlie actually signed when he played in this town a few years ago. I have purchased many albums since 1967 (and before), and have recorded even more off the internet but there is no album ever that came close to the total of this one. EVERY cut is great - no fillers on this album. Check out the names in the band. Check out the sounds - over and over again. Over 40 Years Later, I still get those Blues (and Goosebumps, too)... .. . . .

I hadn't listened to this album in years but recently downloaded it onto my iPod. Man, it is SOOOO good! Very similar in feel and sound to the first Paul Butterfield Blues Band album, this one cooks right along with hot guitar licks and Charlie's wailing harp. This album should be required in any blues fan's music library!

OK you can add others.But they are the two harmonica led electric blues LP's of the 60's.Period.
Cheers
Chazz