The Hitman Blues Band – Hey, Can You Guys Play…
NERUS Records – 2023
10 tracks; 50 minutes
Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander is a New York-based singer and guitarist whose albums are characterised by sharply observed originals. However, from time to time he has covered material from other artists, usually involving a distinctive makeover: “completely reworked, sometimes with new or additional lyrics, to make some old – and arguably overplayed – standards a completely new experience”, as Russell boldly declares. Nine of these tracks are taken from previous albums, from their 1999 debut to the present day. Russell handles guitar and vocals, his wife Joanna and Nancy Hampton add B/V’s, Kevin Bents, Kevin Rymer and Mike Katzman are on keys, Mike Porter bass, Guy LaFountaine drums (replaced on a track each by Ed ‘The Hat’ D’Alessio and Jay Sharkey); horns appear on half the tracks, Eric Altarac trumpet, Nick Clifford baritone sax, John Kelly tenor sax, Mikey Vitale alto sax.
From the 1999 debut album Blooztown Russell gives us a solo resonator version of Robert Johnson’s “Come On In My Kitchen”. A full band version of Son House’s “Death Letter” with swirling keys and slashing guitar comes from 2008’s Pale Rider and works so well that it is still part of the band’s live shows. A live version of John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” comes from 2008’s Live At The Stonybrook University and is preceded by a typical aside from the leader: “I think it’s time we had a little hooker – err, let me rephrase that – John Lee Hooker”. Even stronger is Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man”, often covered, but rarely better than the dramatic and rocking version on 2016’s The World Moves On which opens this collection, horns and keys sounding great over a driving beat, the extended length offering solo opportunities for Russell and the horns.
In 2017 Russell released a solo acoustic album Playing To The Crowd, from which two tracks are taken: “Good Morning Judge”, best known from Wynonie Harris’ 1950 version, and the wonderful title “Who Put The Benzedrine In Mrs. Murphy’s Ovaltine?” from the obscure Harry ‘The Hipster’ Gibson, two marvellously comic songs performed with a knowing wink.
Three cuts come from 2021’s Not My Circus, Not My Monkey, all with horns. Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” is radically transformed from the original with a dramatic horn arrangement and a great chorus with the girls in harmony. The two other tracks are both adaptations of Blind Willie Johnson tunes: a cool version of “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” has some adapted lyrics but retains the sentiments of the original, as does “John The Revelator” in which Russell imagines what would happen if other Gods came by and gave their opinions on the end of days; played to a strong horn arrangement, this is another impressive reinterpretation. The final track is a new recording, a blues reinterpretation of “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, Kris Kristofferson’s first success when recorded by Johnny Cash in 1970. The lyrics certainly work as a blues song and Russell’s fine solo puts the seal on the deal.
If you are a committed fan of The Hitman Blues Band you will have all these tracks apart from the Kristofferson cover, but if you are not familiar with the band these covers form an excellent introduction to their diverse style.
