Search - Willie Dixon :: Hidden Charms

Overlooked gem

Peter Jones | Portland, OR United States | 07/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a shame this album is out of print. Its' style is a departure from the blues standards for which he is known, and is similar to that of Gingerale Afternoon, simple, reminiscent of old men sitting around playing checkers, light-hearted and sincere. A great addition to your collection - if you can find it."

Nothing to write home about

happydogpotatohead | New Orleans, LA USA | 02/27/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Willie Dixon was a great songwriter. He is quite often overrated as a performer because of the quality of his songs, and this recording, like all his solo recordings, shows exactly why he was a great songwriter - but not a great singer or performer.Dixon's voice, never much to begin with, is strained here, but he manages a conversational delivery that almost works. I say almost because some of these songs, particularly the old ones that he reworks here, would require a much more impassioned delivery than he was capable of to make them work. The production is clear, but the instrumentation and arrangements are acoustic, and midtempo/slow songs abound. The "new" numbers on this album sound alike and break no new ground in any sense.There's a reason this CD is out of print. I gave it three stars out of respect for Dixon's accomplishments in the field of Chicago blues (not Delta blues, people; totally different genre) and for the musicians' contributions. But in all honesty, if you went your entire life without hearing this CD, you wouldn't be missing a whole lot. I've owned it from the time of the first issue on vinyl and I haven't played it more than a half-dozen times. Willie Dixon's songs were best performed by other people, particularly Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Buddy Guy. This recording, sad to say, is definitive proof of that."