Mikey Junior – Blues in the Barn: Volume One
Mikey Junior’s South Philly Blues Party
Blue Train Records
12 tracks each – 43 minutes & 57 minutes respectively
Mikey Junior (no other name provided) grew up in New Jersey where he developed a strong penchant for the harmonica during his high school years. His capabilities were soon discovered by others and soon he was on many stages throughout the Northeast. Now located in Philadelphia, he continues his pursuit of the blues and keeping awareness to the public to the many old masters that have now passed on. He seeks to keep their legacy alive while also introducing new originals into the mix.
Mikey has a deep voice that is certainly appropriate for the old school blues he pursues. In recent months he has released two albums that gives a clear message of delivering his own renditions of many classic songs but keeping the legacy of the originals alive to his listeners. The more recent of the two albums Blues in The Barn is just what it says. The Blues Barn sits on an 80- acre farm located adjacent to a river. The barn over the years had been the source of many parties and concerts and was recognized for having some amazing acoustics. Ultimately, a decision was made to build a recording studio in it resulting in this album. Performers on the album are Mikey Junior on harmonica and vocals, Richard “Filthy Rich” MacPherson and Matt Daniels on guitar, Jimmy Pritchard on bass, Scott Stump on drums and producer Andy Kravitz also adding drums on two tracks.
Covers on this album include Elmore James’ “Something Inside Me”; Howlin Wolf’s “Shake for Me” and ” I’m Leaving You”; Sonny Boy Williamson II’s “You’re Killing Me (On My Feet), “Dissatisfied”, and “Elevate Me Mama”; Little Walter Jacob’s “Last Night” and Jimmy Rogers’ “Goin’ Away”. There is also a “show-stopping rendition” of “Summertime”, which he notes is one of his most requested tunes.
The first original, “321 Chelsea”, on the album is an instrumental played on a chromatic harmonica. Like “Summertime”, it is a smooth, tranquil song. The second original is “Silo Yo”, another instrumental that lets Mikey’s harmonica bounce out over the top of a guitar lead. The final original and the end piece to the album has Mikey singing that I have got to “Keep Moving My Way” and telling her “You will find out when I am gone.” At the end of the song, he sings his thanks to Sharon and Gene Stickel, the owners of the Barn and the Executive Producers of the album.
The earlier release Mikey Juniors South Philly Blues Party follows a similar approach to the first album with nine covers and three originals. The album was recorded live at a private house party in 2019. The performers are also similar to that of the first album with Mikey Junior, Daniels, Pritchard and Stump. MacPherson also plays on four tracks along with four other guitarists sitting in on various cuts.
The covers on this album include Sonny Boy Williams’ “Ninety-Nine”; Willie Dixon’s “As Long As I Have You”; Don Robey’s “Good Time Charlie” and “As The Years Go Passing By”; Muddy Waters’ “She’s Nineteen Years Old” which features guest Harmonica player Mark “Marky B” Berkowitz; New Orleans’ James “Sugar Boy” Crawford’s “You Call Everybody Sweetheart”; Magic Sam’s “My Love Is Your Love”; Freddie King’s “The Stumble”, and Skip James’ “Hard Time Killing Floor”.
The originals on this album start with “Traveling South” as he asks her to “go my way” and assures her “that I have been called a loser, but I won’t be a loser for long.” On “She’s Good at Being Bad”, “the boys can’t leave her alone” and “the best girlfriend I ever had”. He energetically sings that “Katie Lynn” is a girl “he can’t just leave her alone” and “has my heart racing every time I see you”.
Mikey’s voice and harmonica work is very suitable to the material he is covering and certainly pays his tribute to the classic musicians he covers. His band also deserves respect for matching Mikey’s approach to the music with quality guitar and rhythm enhancing the intent of the music.
