Lil’ Jimmy Reed – Caress Me Baby
12 tracks, 55 minutes 19 seconds
At the age of 87, Leroy Atkins, better known as Lil’ Jimmy Reed, is in the small group of revered blues elders that includes greats such as Buddy Guy (89), Bob Stroger (94), Bobby Rush (92) and Taj Mahal (82). He maintains an active performance schedule, both in his home territory (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and contiguous states) and overseas. Over the years, many of his performances have been recorded but not released. Vienna, Austria-based Wolf Records has assembled Caress Me Baby from six 2015 in-studio recordings and six live performances at the 2017 Calgary International Blues Festival. The live tracks capture the rapport that Atkins has with his audience. This record is a complete presentation of Atkins’ artful homage to the original Jimmy Reed.
Atkins transformation into Lil’ Jimmy Reed is a classic blues yarn. He was born in tiny Hardwood, Louisiana and grew up in a shotgun shack. There was a blues club nearby, and Atkins absorbed the music pouring from the joint. He began playing harmonica and progressed to a 3-string cigar box guitar. Atkins’ father bought him a Gibson electric guitar, and he quickly gained proficiency on the instrument. Atkins was a Jimmy Reed fan and learned to play the harmonica in a neck rack while accompanying himself on guitar so he could play Reed’s songs. When Atkins was about 19 years old, he was asked to take over one of Jimmy Reed’s shows (the alcoholic blues star was too drunk to perform). Atkins delighted the crowd, and after that night, he became known as Lil’ Jimmy Reed.
The supporting musicians on Caress Me Baby include frequent Atkins collaborators, Bob Hall on piano and Hilary Blythe on electric bass. These two British musicians have often toured with Atkins. The drumming duties on the album are handled by a pair of percussionists – Neil Burton and Mick Klogoss. This group handles the relaxed, economical Jimmy Reed blues grooves with skill and a touch of reverence.
Atkins covers six Jimmy Reed songs on this album. “Down In Virgina” is a classic Jimmy Reed shuffle. Atkins has mastered the upper register harmonica blow bends that Jimmy Reed included in many of his songs. He employs that technique in the opening chorus and in a solo later during this track. The bandleader’s vocals also evoke Reed, although his voice is fuller and slightly grittier than his mentor. Atkins also contributes a tasteful guitar solo on this track. “Goin’ to New York” is one of Reed’s better-known tunes. It is a cheerful mid-tempo shuffle with a generous helping of upper-register harmonica licks from Atkins. “Big Boss Man” is strongly identified with Jimmy Reed because he turned the song into a blues standard. It was actually written by Reed’s manager, Al Smith, and Luther Dixon. This up-tempo shuffle with its stomping back beat is a signature groove in blues, rock and other genres. Atkins and his band deliver an exuberant cover of this classic tune. “I’m Goin’ Upside Your Head” is associated with Jimmy Reed, but it was written by the great Chicago blues singer and drummer, Johnnie Mae Dunston. This song adopts the stomping groove made famous by “Big Boss Man”. “Honest I Do” is another classic Reed tune, and its languid yet passionate declarations of romantic devotion are impeccably delivered by Atkins. (CLICK HERE to see a video of this song live)
The title track, “Caress Me Baby” is a deeper cut from the Jimmy Reed catalog. It is a slow, lump-de-lump blues. Once again, Atkins channels Reed’s harmonica work and vocal style with great success. He also delivers a high-energy guitar solo on this track.
The rest of the album is a collection of Atkins originals and other blues covers. “Tell Me What’s On Your Mind” was written by Atkins. This slow blues tells the timeless story of troubles in a romantic relationship. Atkins gives his harmonica a first-position, upper register work-out in this six-minute track. Atkins’ “Early In The Morning” adopts an up-tempo groove that evokes the Elmore James version of “Dust My Broom”. Atkins gives the harmonica a rest on this track, opting for some stinging guitar work instead. The tempo and groove on Atkins ’ “I’m in Love With You” is identical to “Early In The Morning”, but the lyrics are different.
The three other cover tunes on this record are artfully selected. “T.V. Mama” was first recorded and released by Big Joe Turner in 1953. It was written by the singer’s wife, Lou Willie Turner. Atkins plays this song as an up-tempo shuffle evocative of Elmore James (in fact, James played guitar on the original Big Joe Turner version). “When You Leave, Don’t Take Nothing” is another tale of love gone wrong. Written by pianist Stanley Banks, it has been covered by a number of contemporary blues artists including Demetria Taylor (daughter of guitarist and Jimmy Reed accompanist Eddie Taylor) and the late Chicago-based southern soul blues artist Artie “Blues Boy” White. Atkins’ version of this song is a meaty slow blues punctuated with his spare, slashing blues guitar licks. Atkins also covers the Elmore James classic, “12 Year Old Boy”, the scandalous and funny song about the affair between a man’s girlfriend and an underage neighbor. He takes this tune at a dirge-like tempo, which fits the subject matter quite well.
It has been said that Jimmy Reed has often been imitated but never duplicated. Atkins career has been a tribute to the great bluesman who died before his 51st birthday. While he can’t duplicate the idiosyncratic original, his heartfelt, authentic performances on Caress Me Baby will please blues traditionalists that are longing for the loose-limbed grooves of late, great Jimmy Reed.
