Essential Recordings: Junior Wells, Blues Hit Big Town
"Blues Hit Big Town" represents Junior's earliest works... prior to his more funky-sounding blues material that he's so well known for in the 1960's. Here's what Cub Koda says about this album, "Blues Hit Big Town album by Junior Wells was released Jun 16, 1998 on the Delmark label. This 1998 CD reissue of Wells' debut recordings for the States label adds four previously unheard tracks along with the original 13-track vinyl lineup. 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. Blues Hit Big Town songs 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. Blues Hit Big Town album File under essential."
Junior Wells, Blues Hit Big Town
http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=10174
Here's what Charlie Lange of BlueBeatMusic.com has to say, "With Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Otis Spann These historic sessions also feature Louis and Dave Myers, Willie Dixon, Johnnie Jones, Fred Below and Odie Payne Jr. Recorded by United Records in '53 & '54 at Universal Studio in Chicago, eight sides were issued on the subsidiary States label. Delmark's original LP contained twelve performances and now 5 more are added for the CD! Junior's debut recordings as leader include his first recording of "Hoodoo Man Blues". He was still a teenager at the time and had replaced Little Walter in the Muddy Waters band. Down Beat's Pete Welding wrote "In their power, directness, unerring taste and utter consistency of mood, these may well be the most perfectly distilled examples of Wells' music ever recorded, taking their place alongside of those of Waters, Walter, Wolf and other masters of the period. Five stars." Blues Hit Big Town captures genius emerging from one of the greatest blues personalities and harmonica players of all time. Part of our United series. 1. Hoodoo Man 2. Cut That Out 3. Junior's Wail 4. Tomorrow Night 5. Ways Like An Angel 6. Eagle Rock 7. Please Throw This Poor Dog A Bone 8. Blues Hit Big Town 9. Lord Lord 10. 'Bout The Break Of Day 11. So All Alone 12. Can't Find My Baby 13. Please Throw This Poor Dog A Bone (Alternate) 14. Junior's Wail (Alternate) 15. Eagle Rock (Alternate) 16. Lord Lord (Alternate) 17. Blues Hit Big Town (Alternate)"
