Search - Johnny Heartsman :: Touch

Johnny tries too hard!

Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 05/03/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When a man who had an R&B hit in 1957 gets to cut an album for Alligator records in 1991 it's only natural that he wants to show the range of his talents. Unfortunately producer Dick Schurman didn't manage to curb his inclination to show the width of his multi-instrumental talents - and that's the problem with this album. Where he concentrates on playing ONLY B3 or guitar the tracks are strong, but the two versions of "Tongue" have him playing flute and Bass Guitar ( as well as the unexpurgated version having J'neen on vocals and a brass section )and it muddies the mix. It might also have been better to have only used his road band of Rich Forman (guitar) Artis Joyce ( Bass) and Big John Evans (drums) because they clearly understand what he does best which is up-tempo driving blues.There's the basis of a good album here, but it wasn't realised by this release."