Search - Jimmy Witherspoon :: Blues Around the Clock

Down-home glory

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 06/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Jimmy's third album for Prestige, recorded late in 1963. He's in excellent form here, and this is a solid blues recording. More than half of the tunes are slow, heart-breaking killers, and Spoon dishes them up perfectly. He sings often about thwarted love here, and he does so with a gruffness and biting anger/regret that goes right to the quick.



I HAD A DREAM, written by Jimmy, is a remake of an old King recording and is a highlight of the CD. GOIN' DOWN SLOW is also a gem about a guy just about at the end of his ropes. GOIN' TO CHICAGO by Spoon's mentor Jimmy Rushing gets a good reading, as does Willie Dixon's up-tempo MY BABE. Paul Griffin is on organ with Lord Westbrook on guitar, and the rhythm section of Leonard Gaskin (b) and Herbie Lovelle (d) nail the proceedings down. I rank this as among the best of Spoon's Prestige albums. If you dig Jimmy Witherspoon or heart-wrenching blues in general, this CD's for you.

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