Customer Reviews

Walking the Blues

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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The CD's of Otis Spann's "Walking the Blues" and "Otis Spann Is the Blues" include extra tracks that aren't listed on the packaging or the Amazon track-listing. These tracks were originally on the Japanese releases on the P-Vine label and on the limited-edition (and long out of print) 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 7 extra tracks on "Walking the Blues" are:

12. Talkin' the Blues (take 3) (5:20)
13. It Hurts Me Too (4:56)
14. One Doggone Reason (2:40)
15. Strange Woman Blues (3:51)
16. The Girl I Love (3:47)
17. Come Day, Go Day (take 3) (4:10)
18. Baby Child (take 5) (4:04)

These are classic recordings by Otis Spann (my favorite blues pianist) and Robert Lockwood, Jr. (my favorite blues guitarist), along with vocals on several tracks by St. Louis Jimmy Oden. You can't go wrong.

See my review of "Otis Spann Is the Blues" for the unissued tracks included on that CD.

Otis Spann was the piano player in the famous Muddy Waters blues band in Chicago from 1953 to 1969. On this record we get a chance to listen to Otis Spann singing and playing the piano solo (accompanied by a guitar only). 40 years have passed since this recording was made. Looking back I have to confess that in my judgement Otis Spann was the greater talent of the two. Today, the music of Otis Spann is still fresh, original and timeless in its deep "soulfulness" while in comparison, the music of Muddy Waters sounds to me dated and somewhat artificial in its heavy reliance on the "electrified" sound of the guitar. According to Waters, Spann "is the best blues piano player we have today. There is no one left like him who plays the real, solid, bottom blues" (a quote from an interview given by Waters in the late 1960's). Waters also liked to emphasize that Spann played the piano "with both hands" (refering to the strong and articulate left hand in Spann's piano playing). Otis Spann died rather young at the age of 40 in 1970 appearently as a poor man, while Muddy Waters continued his successful career until his death in 1983 at the age of 68.

Otis Spann has a heavenly facility at the keys, and through it he expresses not only the gamut of human feelings, but the combinations and conflicts of feelings that we all experience. I really enjoy this disk.

I hesitated to buy this one as there were no reviews. Jumped in anyway. Both Otis Spann's voice & piano playing on "Walking The Blues" are as good as I've heard. Ditto Robert Lockwood, Jr.; both voice & guitar accompaniment.
James Oden is good but doesn't complete w/ Spann and Lockwood. Still, no complaints; he is good, also. No one could compete w/ Spann & Lockwood on this one.
This recording has great, clear sound w/ voices & instruments complimenting each other wonderfully; no fighting to dominate.
The CD is well worth the money if all I got was Otis Spann on this version of his "Half Ain't Been Told". It's hard to decide on a favorite on this CD but if I had to "Half..." would be it.

To my surprise I got in Nov. 2007 the "Walking the Blues" (Otis Spann) CD with 7 extra splendid tracks of him, not mentioned in the booklet (picture different from the advertised one). Thank you very much!

The liner notes indicate that this was originally intended to be a Volume 2 follow-up to "Otis Spann Is the Blues", and was recorded at the same time with the same great sound quality. It includes Robert Lockwood, and features the singing of James Oden (St. Louis Jimmy) on five songs. James Oden has an unusual singing style, and takes some getting used to, but grows on you (listen to "Bad Condition" above). Overall this is a good album, but not quite as charming as the first album. A good alternative to this album is "Good Morning Mr. Blues", as it is in the same vein, but is strictly Spann with his piano. Another great recording.

simply put this is the best piano blues i have ever heard. otis spann was a true master of blues piano so wait no longer do yourself a favor and pick this one up