Search - Brownie Mcghee :: Brownie's Blues

Brownie's Blues

Bomojaz | South Central PA, USA | 09/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An interesting album in a number of ways. First of all, it's one of the few albums that have both Brownie and Sonny Terry on it in which only Brownie sings - not even a "whooop" from Sonny. One wonders why. You have to go back to a Savoy date from 1955 to see that happening again, and all the way back to 1952 date for Jackson to find Sonny singing and Brownie only accompanying on guitar. (Wonder how this made Sonny feel.)



It also marks the only time I know of when a second guitar was added when Sonny and Brownie were working alone together. Bennie Foster's guitar bolsters Brownie's work, but since such an addition was never used before or afterwards, it makes you wonder what made them try it here.



Anyway, some great tracks went down on this date. ONE THING FOR SURE reworks the "Gonna reap what you sow" idea in an 8-bar format. Memphis Slim's TROUBLE IN MIND is taken just a tad too slow and begins to drag a bit, but LITTLE BLACK ENGINE, a 24-bar blues taken in cut time, is a train song that is captivating and even swings nicely. A fine addition to the Brownie McGhee repertory."