Swinging the Blues

Little Willie Anderson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 4, 1994)
• Original Release Date: July 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Earwig
• ASIN: B000004BV1
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #452,583 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Come Here Mama

2. Willie's Women Blues

3. Lester Leaps In

4. Everything Gonna Be Alright

5. Late Night

6. 69th Street Bounce

7. Looking for You Baby

8. Been Around

9. Wes Side Baby

10. Big Fat Mama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Little Walter Protege step out on his own, January 13, 2002

By	peter krampert (eharmonica.net) - See all my reviews

Chicago's Little Willie Anderson learned to play harmonica from his father while growing up in rural Arkansas. He moved to Chicago in 1939 and during the 1950's he became enamored with the harmonica playing of Blues harp god, Little Walter Jacobs. Anderson became Walter's valet, chauffeur and sometimes filled in for Walter when Walter was incapable of performing himself.

Anderson began working on his own in the 1970's and worked with Jimmy Johnson, Smokey Smothers, Muddy Waters and other Chicago stalwarts. This CD, originally produced by Blues harmonica enthusiast Bob Corritore, represents his attempt to step out from under Little Walter's shadow.

Anderson is backed by some of Blue's finest, including Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Lee Robinson and Fred Below. Anderson is a capable harmonica player and bandleader. My only gripe with this album is that Anderson spent a little too much time under Walter's tutelage and never fully emerges as an original talent. Albeit a very capable performer, he is nevertheless not his master's voice.

Overall it's still a very good album and one worth having in your collection.