Hubert Sumlin About Them Shoes Genres:Blues, Pop Hubert Sumlin's famed for the shimmying riffs he laid all over classic Howlin' Wolf songs like "Killing Floor" and "Shake for Me," yet this excellent disc--which teams the 73-year-old firebrand with pals Eric Clapton, Keit... more »h Richards, James Cotton, Bob Margolin, and a host of other veterans--is a rocking, soulful tribute to another of his employers, Muddy Waters. Clapton bites into the licks and lyrics of Waters's "I'm Ready" and "Long-Distance Call," joining Sumlin in a passionate séance that raises the great spirits of '50s Chicago blues. Richards and Sumlin have an insouciant rapport that makes the stark "Still a Fool" and "Little Girl, This Is the End" sound like late-night conversations between lost, lonely hearts. But the real star is Sumlin, whose string sliding, deep tone, dizzy vibrato, acrobatic note bending, and tense, wily phrasing still sound as entirely original and vigorous as they did nearly a half-century ago. Buy this album--now. --Ted Drozdowski« less
Hubert Sumlin's famed for the shimmying riffs he laid all over classic Howlin' Wolf songs like "Killing Floor" and "Shake for Me," yet this excellent disc--which teams the 73-year-old firebrand with pals Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, James Cotton, Bob Margolin, and a host of other veterans--is a rocking, soulful tribute to another of his employers, Muddy Waters. Clapton bites into the licks and lyrics of Waters's "I'm Ready" and "Long-Distance Call," joining Sumlin in a passionate séance that raises the great spirits of '50s Chicago blues. Richards and Sumlin have an insouciant rapport that makes the stark "Still a Fool" and "Little Girl, This Is the End" sound like late-night conversations between lost, lonely hearts. But the real star is Sumlin, whose string sliding, deep tone, dizzy vibrato, acrobatic note bending, and tense, wily phrasing still sound as entirely original and vigorous as they did nearly a half-century ago. Buy this album--now. --Ted Drozdowski
deepbluereview | SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA | 02/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hubert Sumlin is a star in his own rights having shared the spotlight as Howlin' Wolf's lead guitarist from 1956 to 1976. Sumlin's flashy guitar work has been credited with influencing the work of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well along in years, some of the stars that he influenced return to help produce a great release to kick of 2005. The guests include Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and harpist Paul Oscher. The band also benefits from Muddy Waters guitarist Bob Margolin and David Maxwell on piano. The tunes are covers of songs written by Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. Everything about the CD is first rate."
Nice - but nothing particularly special
Tod C. Armstrong | Rohnert Park, CA United States | 01/27/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"THE highlight of the disc is the final track and the only one featuring Hubert on vocals - he does a wonderful acoustic guitar interplay with Keith on a self-penned tune. Interesting that this is the highlight - as the theme of the (rest of the) album is Muddy Waters tunes.
The only problem, per se, with the rest of the album is that it only makes you (at least, me) wanna play the originals....none of these even sniff the greatness of the Muddy originals. In that respect, it reminds me alot of Jimmy Rogers' final album, Blues Blues Blues...a fine album (and one that also features Keith -- and Mick -- on 3 tracks)...but nothing ground-breaking. Both nice listens.
Keith turns in a serviceable vocal on Still a Fool (but, really he's not much of a blues singer). Clapton probably comes off the best among the vocal performers (aside from Hubert). Other nice vocal contributions by Blondie Chaplin, David Johansen and others.
Hubert's leads steal the show, here, though. If you're expecting some wicked guitar from Keith, you'll be disappointed. He's here as a sideman on three tracks - nice, but nothing special.
"
On your feet.
R. N. Owen | FERNDALE, MID GLAMORGAN United Kingdom | 01/27/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This sounds like a long-lost Chess treasure from about '62. Hubert calls in some favours from people who took (and ran with)what he laid down working with The Wolf and Muddy all those years ago. Some of the other 'originals' from that era shine here too but it's Keith Richards for me who shows the spirit of Chicago is still alive and well - albeit with an English accent that's more Southend than Southside. The producers of this CD (great sound!) should now get Hubert and Keith back in the studio with just two acoustic guitars and a stand-up bass player. These are good times for septugenarians; see John Mayall's recent offering, also featuring Eric Clapton. So buy this CD and read Moanin' at Midnight (James Segrest, Mark Hoffman) as you listen - you'll find out how Hubert learned to play."
About time for them shoes
D. G. Devin | 08/18/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I knew from the opening notes of track one that I was going to really enjoy this album, Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready" is one of those toe-tappers that gets everybody onto the dance floor, and when you have sidemen like Eric Clapton and Levon Helm and steady-rollin' Bob Margolin, how can you miss?
Then comes track two, the most riveting Keith Richards performance in recent memory in a dark north-Mississippi-style rendition of Muddy Waters' "Still A Fool." This one has a broken bourbon bottle in one fist and your throat in the other, Sumlin plays lead, Stones sideman Blondie Chaplin is on bass and George Receli on drums, and Keith Richards' husky, moaning vocals bring this tale of adultery and guilt to life. Legend has it that Sumlin developed his finger-picking style after Howlin' Wolf complained that Sumlin was playing too loud, wait 'til you hear the positively spooky fingerstyle solo that closes this song.
Paul Oscher's harmonica is on many tracks and it sounds like blues harp is supposed to, like an old Green Bullet mic wired up to a Fender Champ with the volume on eleven. The whole album has a thick, reverb-laden sound, it was actually recorded on vintage analog equipment.
Clapton does a stinging version of "Long Distance Call," all the pop smaltz over the years can't disguise that the blues is where Clapton feels at home. It must be something for Sumlin to see some of the giants of rock line up to play songs like "The Same Thing" and "Don't Go No Further" with him. But then Jimi Hendrix told Sumlin on first meeting, "I've been waiting all my life to play with you, man."
There is just a hint of studio chatter before and after some songs, lots of laughter, these guys were having a good time. "This Is The End, Little Girl," an acoustic number with just Sumlin, Keith Richards and Paul Nowinski on bass leaves Sumlin literally giggling with delight.
This album was delayed for years due to contractural quicksand and even the bankruptcy of a label. And then came Sumlin's 2002 diagnosis of lung cancer followed by a heart attack and stroke, but he's still with us and shows every sign of not going quietly.
I wonder what happened to the tracks with the other stars who participated, James Cotton, Kim Simmonds, Susan Tedeschi among others, maybe their contributions didn't survive the legal foolishness that kept this release in limbo for so long. I would love to see Volume II appear someday once the lawyers have finished adding up their billable hours."
Outstanding Blues
John B. Foy | 11/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is is great from start to finish. I bought this by giving it a listen at book store, and I was hooked ever since."
