Mississippi MacDonald – Slim Pickin’
APM Records
10 songs – 36 minutes
A three-time winner in the UK Blues Awards, Oliver “Mississippi” MacDonald is one of the most soulful vocalists in Europe. But like his name suggests, his roots extend deeply into the red clay of the Magnolia State and Memphis, where he spends considerable time and where he penned some of the songs on this stellar release.
One of the most soulful, vocalists in the UK, Mississippi MacDonald may have been born in London but his roots extend deeply into the soil of Memphis, too. Best known fronting electric bands, he goes acoustic in the best way possible on this ten-track set.
A London native, Mac picked up guitar for the first time as a child, shunning the Brit pop and grunge that filled the airwaves in favor of his parents’ record collection, which included B.B. King, Al Green and other classic blues and soul artists. Vocally, his biggest influences were Z.Z. Hill and O.V. Wright, and he picked up his chops on the six-string from B.B., Albert and Freddie King and Albert Collins, too.
He made his recording debut with the album Do Right, Say Right in 2021, winning rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. His Heavy State Loving Blues, which followed, included a guest appearance by Vanesse Thomas, Rufus’ daughter. And his subsequent friendship and mentorship from Rev. Charles Hodges and producer Boo Mitchell led to a stint playing in the Take Me to the River Allstars, a group that included Carla Thomas, William Bell, Taj Mahal, Eric Gales, the Hi Rhythm Section and others.
A UK winner in the acoustic category in each of the past two years, MacDonald’s celebrating his 2025 victory with the release of this disc. He’s accompanied by longtime bandmate Phil Dearing, who produced and handled keys and second six-string, too. They’re joined by Dollywood-based bassist/percussionist Brent Cundall.
The collection includes five originals, which fit seamlessly with blues standards culled from the 1920s to the 21st century that are delivered with far more sophistication than several of the creators could ever have conceived. MacDonald inserts a heaping helping of soul into Zach Logan’s 2018 hit, “Trouble Doing the Right Thing.” He glides across the strings effortlessly with minimal backing as his voice soars – something that’s consistent throughout the set.
A run of three originals commences with “Slim Pickin’,” a stylishly funky complaint about a lady who simultaneously picks him up and puts him down at the same time. Things are so bad that he constantly keeps pen in hand, keeping track of all the abuse. The music and mood brighten from the open of “My Bad Attitude,” which serves as a diagnosis for his failings, claiming he’s the way he is because he’s not getting any feedback during times he’s off the rails. The ballad “I’m Sorry” follows, stating that there was never any intent to disappoint his beloved while admitting poignantly that — if there isn’t time to make things right – it’s okay to walk away.
You might not think it’s possible to dovetail songs like that with Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues,” but Mac does it without dropping a beat. His percussive picking and Dearing’s accompaniment update the number for modern ears and fit perfectly with the sweet original, “Got to Get to Walkin’,” a soulfully slow-and-sweet shuffle about the need to get to his good thang who’s living in Memphis, the promised land.
A thoroughly reinvented, mournfully blue version of St. Louis Jimmy Oden’s “Goin’ Down Slow” precedes an updated take on Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Strange Things Happening Every Day” before the self-penned ballad “Sad Songs” bemoans the loss of Mac’s lady, who’s left him alone at home, pouring a glass of wine and spinning tunes that bring him down farther on the stereo. The disc closes with a version of Keb’ Mo’s’ “You Can Love Yourself.” And when it finishes, you’ll definitely be craving more.
If you don’t already have Mississippi MacDonald in your sights, do it now. You’ll thank me later!
