Search - Elmore James, John Brim :: Whose Muddy Shoes

****1/2 - all of Elmore's hard-to-find Chess singles

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 10/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album brings together slide guitar legend Elmore James' and guitarist John Brim's waxings for the Chess label. It is not a collaboration between the two, but rather than put out two very brief CDs, MCA/Chess has opted to combine the two, much as they did on the Albert King/Otis Rush-album "Door To Door".



John Brim's fine "Ice Cream Man" is the leadoff track, and he is the featured artist on five more numbers, including "You Got Me", the "Hound Dog"-knockoff "Rattlesnake", and the menacing "Be Careful What You Do", all of which feature Robert "Jr." Lockwood on guitar, drummer Fred Below, and Little Walter Jacobs playing the harmonica.



But Brim's contributions mostly pale next to the power and intensity of the great Elmore James, whose "Madison Blues", "Talk To Me Baby (I can't hold out)", and "Whose Muddy Shoes" are among his best songs. Backed by his fiery "Broomdusters"-combo, which features pianist Little Johnny Jones and the braying sax of J.T. Brown, James rocks on "Madison Blues", grooves on "The Sun Is Shining" and a heavily reworked "Dust My Broom", and smoulders on the slow "I See My Baby" and the soulful "My Best Friend". And you'll also find his version of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday" here, a truly powerful, dramatic rendition, perfectly suited to James' huge, expressive voice and fiery slide playing.



This is a must-have for any Elmore James fan, John Brim or no John Brim. Many of these songs are among James' best, and only a couple of them are available on the various career-spanning Elmore-compilations.

4 1/2 stars - highly recommended."

God-like

adrian | London | 01/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you own one blues album, let it be this. You will fall down and adjure: 'We are not worthy.'
Save your mortal soul and buy it."

Blues for all moods!

05/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a blues purists dream. Elmore James keeps things moving from the first tune, Ice Cream Man. He is one of the true greats that I rank with BB and Muddy, there isn't a tune here that doesn't make me feel good. The classic Madison Blues to the Sky is Crying just makes me appreciate what blues are all about. I can only say buy this Cd. It is the perfect Blues for any mood is all I can say."