My good blues lovin' friend, Kevin Johnson, of Proud Papa Promotions & Publicity, used to work for Delmark Records in Chicago. Kevin now has his own independent radio promotions and press/publicity/PR company, concentrating on real deal blues! When he sent me a copy of 'Howlin' At Greaseland' (West Tone Records) I knew I'd be in for a good hit of solid blues. And I was right!
Howlin' At Greaseland is tribute to the legend Howlin' Wolf (Chester Arthur Burnett June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976). Wolf is blues, there's no doubt about it. Several of his songs, including Smokestack Lightnin', Killing Floor and Spoonful, have become blues and blues rock standards the world over. On this album of 14 tracks, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and recording engineer, Kid Anderson, brings together some of the most accomplished musicians this side of Wolf's life, to recreate and cover some of Wolf's most outstanding songs. It's not that Howlin' At Greaseland is trying to outdo or better Wolf's genius, rather it's paying homage to a true blues legend that I'm sure all the artists involved love and admire.
Produced by Andersen at Greaseland Studios, Howlin' At Greaseland features many great artists such as Rick Estrin, Johnny Cat, Tail Dragger, Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, Jim Pugh, Henry Gray (played piano for Wolf), Terry Hanck, Ali Kumar and many more.
There's some good banter and stories in between songs thanks to Anderson for keeping the tapes rollin. I just think the whole album is brilliant. It captures today's prmier West Coast and Chicago players very well. I highly recommend you pick yourself up a copy soon! I spin a few songs I like from Howlin' At Greaseland plus some other massive tracks that also pay tribute to the legend, Howlin' Wolf. Ahhhh whooooo, whooooo (*in the accent of Howlin' Wolf). Enjoy!
Playlist
1 Barrelhouse Chuck & Kim Wilson's Blues AllStars - Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy
2 James Blood Ulmer - Evil
3 Eric Clapton & Wynton Marsalis - Forty-Four
4 Bill Sims Jr. - Back Door Man
5 Greaseland AllStars - Smokestack Lighnin'
7 Greaseland AllStars - Howlin' For My Darling
8 Greaseland AllStars - Worried Life Blues
9 Greaseland AllStars - Spoonful
10 Johnny Winter with Paul Nelson - Killing Floor
11 Michael Powers - I Ain't Superstitious
12 Satan & Adam - Little Red Rooster
16 Howlin' Wolf - Sittin' On Top Of The World
This episode of The Blues Room was first aired on FreeFM89.0 in New Zealand
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