Midnight Blues

Magic Slim

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2008)
• Original Release Date: September 9, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blind Pig
• ASIN: B001CISIJO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,319 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
When word got out that Magic Slim was looking for a few guest Teardrops, the Chicago rhythm & blues community responded with a resounding 'Yeah!' Joining him on this incredible set of real Chicago Blues with a dash of Country and a bit of Soul thrown in are James Cotton, Lil' Ed Williams, Lonnie Brooks, Otis Clay, Gene Barge, Elvin Bishop and the Chicago Rhythm & Bues Kings horn section. Slim is a national treasure, one of the few true bluesmen still around, and at seventy years young he is playing and singing with as much passion and strength as ever.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Got the 'Magic', September 15, 2008

By	James Arria "authentic blues man" (West Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Midnight Blues is a belated and much welcome new disc from Magic Slim and his Teardrops, and as usual they tear the roof off the mutha f$%^er with this set. Right off the bat 'Let Me Love You' kicks into overdrive, and Slim does Muddy Waters proud with two fine covers 'Can't Lose What You Never Had' and a little known number from his 'Hard Again' album called 'Cross-eyed Cat'.

He also revisits Hound Dog Taylor's 'Give Me Back My Wig' and carries on the tradition with pride! As usual, Slim's guitar playing is full of sting and those typical rapid fire notes. Even if his voice has weakened just a bit with age, he still has that gloriously wonderful growl. The only misstep may have been the country cover 'Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad'. Not that Slim doesn't play it well, it just seems out of character for his voice. As usual the Teardrops provide great backing, proving how a Chicago Blues BAND should sound like.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicago Blues, September 9, 2008

By	Greg Demko (Center, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

New CD's by BB King, Buddy Guy, and Magic Slim all within a month. How great is that for blues fans? Magic Slim is every bit the national treasure as BB and Buddy. He has a long time association with Blind Pig records but his new album is by far his best. There are several big name guest stars on the album but the real star here is Magic Slim. This is classic, gritty, Chicago blues and there is not a weak song on the CD.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong band. Strong record., September 25, 2008

By	Arthur Shuey "daddyvoice" (Wilmington, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Didn't get excited about Magic Slim & the Teardrops the first time I heard them. Big, greasy Willie Johnson guitar work, Jimmy Reed slurred vocals, same fatback backbeat drums, nothing special about the setlist. Didn't get excited about Magic Slim & the Teardrops the second time I heard them, either, and so on and so forth through a lot of years to the present.
The thing is, during all those years, Willie Johnson and Jimmy Reed were passing away, and other road acts billing themselves as Chicago blues acts either lost track of the attitude or burned out. Magic Slim & the Teardrops are still enthusiastically at it, doing those songs that way because that's what they do and that's the way they like to do them, no matter who or what else they may see or hear.
They're not on a revival tour of their own better days; they never had better days. They've been solid blues craftsmen for a long time, and it's more of a joy and a relief to run into real craftsmen every day, because that breed is fading.
Strong band. Strong record. Thirteen classic tunes.