Description
*This is a Vinyl LP*
Release Date: 2016
Label: Delmark Records
Track List
Side A
A1. Hoodoo Man 3:03
A2. Better Cut That Out 2:49
A3. Junior’s Wail 2:52
A4. Tomorrow Night 2:25
A5. Lovin’ Blues 3:13
A6 Eagle Rock 2:22
Side B
B1. Blues Hit Big Town — Slow 2:53
B2. Lawdy! Lawdy! 2:38
B3. Early In The Morning 3:13
B4. Throw This Poor Dog A Bone 2:26
B5. So All Alone 3:17
B6. Blues Hit Big Town — Fast 2:36
Personnel
Bass – Willie Dixon (tracks: B1-B6)
Bass Guitar – Dave Myers (tracks: A1-A6)
Drums – Fred Below (tracks: A1-A6), Odie Payne (tracks: B1-B6)
Guitar – Elmore James (tracks: A1-A6), Louis Myers, Muddy Waters (tracks: B1-B6)
Piano – Johnnie Jones (tracks: A1-A6), Otis Spann (tracks: B1-B6)
Vocals, Harmonica – Junior Wells
Review
This is a collection of Wells’ debut recordings for the States label. Wells’ legacy begins with these landmark sides, featuring Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Johnnie Jones, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, and the Aces in the lineup at various points. Whether it’s a slow one like his original take on “Hoodoo Man” or a jump number like “Cut That Out,” the grooves are classic Chicago and a mile deep. Most telling are the acoustic duets with Louis Myers recorded between the 1953 and 1954 studio sessions and the fine instrumentals like “Junior’s Wail” and “Eagle Rock.” Although at the start of a long career, it’s obvious that Junior Wells was already a young man with a style all his own, ready to make blues history. File under essential. Cub Koda
