Search - Lee Baker :: Fresh Oil

An overlooked gem.

r.j. zurek | Cape Coral, FL United States | 04/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Lee Baker was murdered in 1996, a few music publications were the only media outlets to report the tragedy. Baker was a highly regarded blues/rock guitarist who was good enough to guest on Furry Lewis' 1969 release "Take Your Time", and to steal the thunder from Johnny Winter that same year with his band Moloch at the second annual Memphis blues fest. Later, he formed Mudboy and the Neutrons with keyboardist/producer Jim Dickinson, Sid Selvidge and Jimmy Crosthwait. He formed the Agitators in the 90's and became a Beale Street fixture.



One listen to "Fresh Oil" and you will hear what influenced the North Mississippi Allstars the most. Dickinson's sons founded the Allstars with the intent of carrying on the tradition of Mississippi hill country blues with a Memphis rockin' edge. "Fresh Oil" is the blueprint for this approach. "In Ma Bag", "L.A., C.A." and "Big Fat Mama" are rockin' originals while "Stop Breaking Down" and "Walking Blues" are Robert Johnson compositions that bear a distinctive Memphis stamp (trebley rhythm guitars and stinging leads). Sequencing is perfect: a ballad like "Breathing in the Water" is sandwiched between two barn burners, "L.A., C.A." and "Waiting For the Bad News".



"Moonlights and Magnolias". a beautiful instrumental written by Baker and co-guitarist Jimmy Sergerson, features the late saxophonist Fred Ford (Ford succumbed to cancer in 1999). All fans of blues and roots rock, especially the Allstars, should check out this overlooked gem."