Customer Reviews

Whose Muddy Shoes

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album brings together slide guitar legend Elmore James' and guitarist John Brim's waxings for the Chess label. It is not a collaboration between the two, but rather than put out two very brief CDs, MCA/Chess has opted to combine the two, much as they did on the Albert King/Otis Rush-album "Door To Door".

John Brim's fine "Ice Cream Man" is the leadoff track, and he is the featured artist on five more numbers, including "You Got Me", the "Hound Dog"-knockoff "Rattlesnake", and the menacing "Be Careful What You Do", all of which feature Robert "Jr." Lockwood on guitar, drummer Fred Below, and Little Walter Jacobs playing the harmonica.

But Brim's contributions mostly pale next to the power and intensity of the great Elmore James, whose "Madison Blues", "Talk To Me Baby (I can't hold out)", and "Whose Muddy Shoes" are among his best songs. Backed by his fiery "Broomdusters"-combo, which features pianist Little Johnny Jones and the braying sax of J.T. Brown, James rocks on "Madison Blues", grooves on "The Sun Is Shining" and a heavily reworked "Dust My Broom", and smoulders on the slow "I See My Baby" and the soulful "My Best Friend". And you'll also find his version of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday" here, a truly powerful, dramatic rendition, perfectly suited to James' huge, expressive voice and fiery slide playing.

This is a must-have for any Elmore James fan, John Brim or no John Brim. Many of these songs are among James' best, and only a couple of them are available on the various career-spanning Elmore-compilations.
4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

If you own one blues album, let it be this. You will fall down and adjure: 'We are not worthy.'
Save your mortal soul and buy it.

I had the vinyl of this album about forty years ago. But it did not contain the same songs as this CD. It had about ten tunes featuring the legendary Elmore James, and one song with another singer who was not identified. I knew it wasn't EJ. I could never quite figure out why only one John Brim tune was on that old record: Be Careful was the song, and it featured the absolutely supreme and powerful harp playing of Walter Jacobs, the man who "invented" amplified harmonica.

The EJ songs on this album are must-have; they are some of the best things he's ever done, and somewhat hard to find on any of the other EJ compilations.
The bonus with the John Brim numbers is that you get Little Walter wailing on backup harp, and sounding as good as he's ever sounded. I much prefer electric or amped harp to acoustic, and there is only one acoustic harp number on this record. John Brim is a fine vocalist as well.

All-in-all, a very, very fine blues album, definitely worth it. Little Walter fans will have to have it, as will Elmore fans. There aren't many John Brim albums out there....so, all that said, why would you not own this, if you are a blues fan??

This is a blues compilation that is worth checking out. It contains a number of Elmore James' best known Chess recordings as well as a few tracks by John Brim, whose song "Ice Cream Man" was covered by Van Halen on the first Van Halen album.

If you're just starting into older blues recordings, Elmore James is one of the essential artists you should be checking out. James was one of the great blues guitarists and composers. His material has been covered by Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn, among others.

John Brim was also a great guitar player and composer but he didn't record anywhere near as much material as James did. Brim's recordings are hard to find; this CD contains Brim's best known work, including the track "Ice Cream Man" that was covered by Van Halen.

When one thinks of the classic blues tune "Dust My Broom" one tends to think of the legendary Robert Johnson who along with his "Sweet Home, Chicago" created two of the signature blues songs of the pre-World War II period. However, my first hearing of "Dust My Broom" was on a hot LP (the old days, right?) version covered and made his own by the artist under review, Elmore James. I have heard many cover versions since then, including from the likes of George Thorogood and Chris Smithers, and they all reflect on the influence of Elmore's amazing slide guitar virtuosity to provide the "heat" necessary to do the song justice. Moreover, this is only the tip of the iceberg as such blues masters and aficionados as B.B. King and The Rolling Stones have covered other parts of James' catalog.

Perhaps because Elmore died relativity young at a time when blues were just being revived in the early 1960's as part of the general trend toward "discovering" roots music by the likes of this reviewer he has been a less well-known member of the blues pantheon. However, for those who know the value of a good slide guitar to add sexiness and sauciness to a blues number James' is a hero. Hell Thorogood built a whole career out of Elmore covers (and also, to be sure, of the late legendary Bo Didderly). I never get tired of hearing these great songs. Moreover, it did not hurt to have the famous Broomdusters backing him up throughout the years. As one would expect of material done in the pre-digital age the sound quality is very dependent on the quality of the studio. But that, to my mind just makes it more authentic.

Well, what did you NEED to listen to here? Obviously,"Dust My Broom". On this CD though you MUST listen to Elmore on "Who's Muddy Shoes?" Wow, it jumps right out at you. "Madison Blues", "Talk To Me Baby" and "Stormy Monday" round out the minimum program here. Listen on.

This CD shows what real music is all about

This is a blues purists dream. Elmore James keeps things moving from the first tune, Ice Cream Man. He is one of the true greats that I rank with BB and Muddy, there isn't a tune here that doesn't make me feel good. The classic Madison Blues to the Sky is Crying just makes me appreciate what blues are all about. I can only say buy this Cd. It is the perfect Blues for any mood is all I can say.

This CD shows what real music is all about