Search - Fred Knobloch & Jelly Roll Johnson :: Live at the Bluebird Cafe

A longtime fan

James R. Alexander | Huntsville, Alabama United States | 04/12/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Fred Knobloch since he was playing clubs around Jackson, Mississippi in the late 70s and early 80s. He scored an early hit with "Why not me?" back in the late 70s. Since then he has written a lot of stuff for other artists and taken a stab at mainline country music with the groups SKO and SKB. He takes a slightly different turn with this album. His lyrics and music are able to tug at your heart in a way that is foreign to most artists. His voice has really matured since the old days and seems perfect for the unique type of "folksy blues" music found on this album. Most of his songs defy an easy categorization, but this CD is definately worth a listen. The music on here can be described as soulful, bluesy, folk, etc. However you describe it, Fred is a great storyteller/troubadour. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention that Jelly Roll Johnson blows a mean blues harp. I'd have to rank him right up there with Greg "Fingers" Taylor as a harmonica player."

Great Live Album by Knobloch (not Knoblock)

J. Cross | TN | 03/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a magical effort. A great songwriter, and the performance is made complete when Johnson teams up with Fred Knobloch. Knobloch has no peer as a songwriter (He's the creator of George Strait's smash "Meanwhile"). He can make you laugh or cry, or feel good, or take you away through his song to somewhere that seems real to you. He's one of those performers that comes across great live. Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson often plays harmonica with Thom Schuyler,Fred Knobloch & Don Schlitz, who perform together, as well as the solo gigs Knobloch does. Johnson is a player who must be heard to be believed. He is the BEST, and brings out the best in others and in their songs. That's why he has been on hundreds of gold records and is in constant demand as a studio musician, and by songwriters performing live. You will hardly find a successful country singer that hasn't benefitted from Jelly Roll's masterful work. Johnson has been ACM Musician of the year before, and Knobloch has written songs you've heard and love. This deal is a steal! Includes the song "Three Verses", one of my favorites by Fred. Knobloch also has "Let's Eat - 12 Course Dinner" available, with some other friends, including Johnson, and it is great.

Also, check out Jelly Roll Johnson and a Few Close Friends here on Amazon, an album by Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson, with Fred Knobloch singing and playing ("Can I Come Back Home", and "A Lover Is Forever") studio versions on Johnson's CD. It has new original songs featuring a number of songwriters, including Tony Arata (wrote Garth Brook's "The Dance") and Verlon Thompson (who penned the Trisha Yearwood hit "You say You Will"), and other great writers who also play and sing their songs, Suzi Ragsdale, and Malcolm Holcombe, and songs written by Johnson, who plays harmonica throughout all the songs.

A similar album to this is Live at the Bluebird Cafe with Michael Johnson, which is Johnson & Johnson to perfection, barebones. If you can get to the Bluebird Cafe (or any other venue) to see Knobloch and Johnson live, do it. Regardless, buy this CD, or any of those mentioned. You won't regret it!

Check out the websites for Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson and J. Fred Knobloch

www.jfredk.com

www.jellyrolljohnson.com

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