Delmark 70th Anniversary Blues Album
Delmark Records
10 tracks
Seventy years ago Bob Koester formed Delmark Records. No blues label has produced music longer. Here we get ten classic tracks that every blues fan needs to burn into their forever memories. Who’d have thought seven decades ago back in 1953 what great music would have been given to us by Bob and his label of blues and jazz music?
Junior Wells’ classic “Snatch It Back and Hold It” with Buddy Guy on guitar opens the retrospective. This seminal work is something every old school blues fan knows and loves. Wells sings with his characteristic swagger and blows dirty harp while Guy lays out some great licks.
“All Your Love” by Magic Sam is a howling and cool rendition of this wonderful classic. Otis Rush made it his, but Sam is the man who Bob Koester produced it on Sam’s Westside Soul album. It’s another legendary tune done by the king of Chicago’s westside blues. Mighty Joe Young joins him on guitar.
And what follows that but Rush doing the same cut. Adding Abb Lock’s tenor horn, Barstool Bob Levis’ great rhythm guitar and a great overall arrangement, we get to hear and contrast the two superb versions. Otis’ guitar rings and he sings with authority.
Jimmy Dawkins follows that with “All For Business,” featuring his unique guitar tone and fretwork. It’s a beautiful piece of music with a great intro before Dawkins lays into the vocals. He shouts and growls as only he can. Dawkins and Otis Rush are both on guitar here.
“Blues For A Day” is a jazzier cut performed by Dinah Washington and a fine backing band led by Lucky Thompson. Her stellar performance almost gives me chills while the horn, piano and vibraphone give superb support.
T-Bone Walker follows with “I Want A Little Girl;” stellar vocals and his signature guitar are amazing. Nice support by the band make it even more special.
“Long Tall Daddy” by Big Time Sarah is next up. Her huge voice gives the listener their money’s worth- she has a powerhouse delivery that few can match, if anyone can.
Little Walter is up next with “I Just Keep Loving Her.” Walter sings and blows with authority in this somewhat stripped down but very cool cut. Muddy Waters’ lead guitar is there for all to enjoy, too.
“Memphis Slim U.S.A.” follows as Slim gives a big performance with his great vocals and excellent piano work and then Matt “Guitar” Murphy giving it his all adds much to the track.
Jimmy Johnson colludes the album with his superb tenor voice and inimitable guitar style. Rico MacFarland joins him on guitar for this fine song.
Every five years we get to hear some classic, old Delmark rereleased to celebrate another special anniversary. For number seventy, we get to hear some truly seminal stuff. I loved reliving these cuts. All blues fans will!
