Charlie Musselwhite – Look Out Highway
11 Tracks – 40 minutes
Charlie Musselwhite has been ingrained in the minds of blues lovers for decades as one of the leaders in the genre. In fact, he has been performing the blues for almost six decades now. Recognized as one of the masters of the blues harp and delivering consistently excellent albums with his easily recognizable voice and capable guitar playing, Charlie has received many accolades over the years including 13 Grammy nominations including one for his last release, Mississippi Son. His 2014 collaboration with Ben Harper, Get Up, won the Grammy for Best Blues Album. He further has won 33 Blues Music Awards among numerous other awards including the Blues Blast Music Awards. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010.
Born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, his career kicked off in the 1960’s, when he relocated to Chicago as the blues revival surfaced alongside the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. His debut album in 1967, Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite’s South Side Band, quickly established his reputation and was further anchored by recognition by San Francisco’s then blossoming counterculture including his performances at the famed Fillmore West. And yes, the first album spelled his first name with a “y”. Now 58 years later and over twenty albums since released, Charlie continues to flourish with his passion for the blues and his constantly on the road lifestyle.
This new album was recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California. It is marked as the first time that Chalie has recorded with his long-time touring band consisting of guitarist Matt Stubbs (GA-20), drummer June Core (Robert Lockwood Jr.) and bassist Randy Burmudes (James Cotton), along with Kid Andersen who has been in and out of the band over the years playing piano and organ and adding guitar on a few tracks. Kid also co-produced the album alongside Charlie’s wife and constant companion, Henrietta “Henri” Musselwhite, and Gary Vincent.
The title song opens the album. Charlie states in the liner notes “The beat came from an old gospel tune, and I just had it rolling around in my head until I caught the scent and found the trail that led to the melody and lyrics.” As would certainly be expected, it starts with a powerful riff from his harp, and he sings he is going “right on back to where the blues come from” in a statement about his constant travels. The soulful “Sad Eyes” speaks of a woman who “sure looks so lonely…it ain’t love baby, but it sure ain’t bad”. Matt’s guitar is a standout on the song with June’s drums establishing a driving beat. He warns that there is a “Storm Warning” as “my baby is blowing back into town, I see clouds on the horizon and the rain will soon be pouring down”. ” I hear the thunder when she is coming, lightning when she walks.” Charlie’s harp accents the coming storm.
On “Baby Won’t You Please Help Me”, he wonders “come this time next year, I wonder where I will be”. He notes “I was born in Mississippi; I was raised In Tennessee. Looks like everywhere I’ve been, the blues have been tailing me.” A rocking “Hip Shakin’ Mama” finds him asking her “Won’t you do it twice” and notes “I love it when you wear that dress and the sun shines through”. He slows things down on “Highway 61” noting “I am just drifting through your town, just because I’m a stranger, don’t put me down.” and states “Highway 61 is the longest road I know, running from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico”.
The sole cover on the album, “Ready for Times to Get Better”, was written by Allen Reynolds and originally recorded by Crystal Gayle. Vocalist Edna Luckett provides guest vocals alongside Charlie on the song. He says, “I have a dream I have been trying to live; it’s been burning holes in my mind”. “I gotta tell you I’ve been racking my brain, I gotta find a way out.” “Ramblin’ Is My Game” gets things jumping again in another tale of being on the road as he proclaims, “On the road to Tennessee, my baby took my car and the blues took me”. “I am a natural born rambler; my bags are always packed.” Kid takes the lead guitar duties on the song. Charlie picks up the slide guitar on “Blue Lounge” with Kid’s piano and June’s drum adding a sorrowful tone to a surprising instrumental perhaps invoking visions of a lonely night in a bar, sipping a glass of bourbon.
Charlie’s friend, rap artist Al Kapone performs on “Ghosts in Memphis”, a recollection of “When I’m in Memphis, it’s filled with ghosts, all my life I’ve been a drifter from pillar to post. While I have been diagnosed, I am not crazy, my friends”. “Ghosts live in the music”. The album concludes with “Open Road”, noting “Well, my baby she loves to ramble, she loves this old open road” “Well, my baby I know she loves me, she loves this old highway too.” “Well someday we hope we’ll find that road to take us on home. We’ll all be happy, no more need to roam”.
Almost sixty years on the road and as well documented in this album, it is a life he and his wife, Henri, loves. The album also is an expression of that love and a continuance of the effort and excellence that Charlie has brought to every album release in his career and is certainly no letdown with this newest release. Keep on rambling Charlie, we enjoy every minute of it.
