I used to know John years ago. He played at a club called the brass ring in California
so needless to say I am a huge fan of his. His first album is great as is all of his music. Cryin and Screamin just adds to his great musical talent. Love his voice. Sorry he had to leave California to make himself known to the world.
Best of luck
From Melody
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Blues For the New Millenium
Blues Kid | Corpus Christi, Texas USA | 05/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It would be much too trite to sum this CD up as typical Texas blues. Typical it is not! This band transcends the status quo of Texas blues to incorporate soul, Chicago blues, funk,southern boogie, as well as that Texas suffle. Lead by the raspy moan and groan of John Ussery, his gentle, soulful wailing guitar, to the absolutely "right stuff" Full Tilt Band. When I first heard this CD I wanted to get up and boogie and I don't dance as a rule. But this is going to be a top contender for my best of nearly 200 blues CDs and 50 LPs. What a find! I have nearly worn this CD out from overplay. John Ussery and band are taking the blues into the next millenium. Blues Kid"
This is real Texas blues!
NadiaYHIC | USA | 05/06/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Backed up by a great band, including horns, John Ussery's CD is nothing less then great, soulful Texas blues. John ain't the best guitarist, but he has feeling, something of which many blues guitarists don't have. His voice is perfect and on pitch, and soulful as well. The horns compliment his playing well, especially on Did You Ever Love A Woman. it's the longest cut on the album, running at almost 7 minutes, but it's one of the best on the album. Ain't You Too Cruel has a great groove to it as well. This is what I call real texas blues! I've Been Pickin' Em Up is one of my favorite blues tunes. It has a real groove. It starts off slow, so you get the impression it will be boring, but then it busts into a beat that will have you bopping your head. So, why 4 stars and not 5? To start off, this is a very long CD. Almost every song is 4:30 or longer (except for a few). But because of that, some of the songs are a bit boring. I'm You Man has a great groove, but the harmonica just doesn't do it for me. Cryin and Screamin has a traditional blues groove, and slide guitar and harmonica, which really doesn't do it for me just like I'm Your Man. I think minus the slide guitar and add some electric blues guitar like on My My Baby Bye Bye and it would've been better. Overall, it's easy just to pass right by the songs that aren't as good. This is a great buy, and some great texas blues. Keep wailin, John!"
Blues Law Enforcer
Mitchell Lopate | Silverdale, WA | 11/07/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The first five seconds on track one ought to convince you-it's the quiet guys whom you have to watch. John's the Roy Hobbs (see the movie The Natural, with Robert Redford) of guitar, having taken 20 years (!) off from playing after he had a dispute with a friend in the studio. But the touch was still there-and when Ussery took up where he left off, he must have gained The Three Kings (Albert, B.B., and Freddie) as guardian angels during those lost years. It shows-they were John's inspiration, and as the title says, this man lets his guitar bleed his heart with the blues. Imagine how Lyle Lovett would sound if the worm in the tequila bottle turned into a live rattlesnake when you got to the bottom, and that's Ussery on vocals-a tough side that swaggers and struts. The brass/horn/harp section of the FTBB smokes like a bad forest fire, especially during John's Delbert McClinton-like "I Been Pickin' `Em Up" (and layin' `em down). This is the return of a bad-a very bad man, and thank God for that. Sherrif Ussery is back in town, y'all, and he's here to lay down the law-as judge, jury, and jailer. Pay attention and get it straight with John, or you'll be "cryin' and screamin'". You can plead for mercy by petitioning the Honorable John U.Special mention: Gettin' Lucky. Yep, this one's as good as the other-but you'd be expecting that."
Full-Tilt Boogie!
deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 04/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In 1998, after a 15 year lay off, Ussery made a comeback with his stand out release "Gettin' Lucky". His follow up "Cryin' and Screamin'" is every bit as good, if not better. This is texas blues with a soulful feel added by an air tight rhythm band complete with tenor sax. Check out the James Brown flavored "I've Been Pickin' Em' Up" or the foot tapping "I'm Your Man". It is apparent from his guitar playing that he has learned alot from the three Kings (Freddie, Albert and BB) over the years. A CD this good makes you ask, what if he had continued to make music over the last 15 years? Hopefully, he's back for a long time. Highly recommended!"