Search - Junior Wells :: Blues Hit Big Town

Even Before Hoodoo Man Blues, Junior Was Fantastic!!

Alex | Colorado | 11/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Junior Wells has always been my personal favorite of the great blues harp players. With his soulful, punchy harmonica technique, exemplified on his classic "Hoodoo Man Blues" album, Junior created one of the coolest harp sounds around. With "Blues Hit Big Town," we are treated to the earliest recordings Junior made.What this record shows primarily, is that even in his late teens, Junior Wells was an astounding harp player. On this record, Junior plays stuff that easily ranks among the finest harp ever laid down. His singing is also good, though his voice has not yet taken on the grittiness that would eventually make him one a the great blues singers.The music on this album is some truly great Chicago blues. Whether on the original take of the classic "Hoodoo Man," the great instrumental "Eagle Rock," or the down in the alley sound of "Please Throw This Poor Dog A Bone," Junior's music runs the gamut of great Chicago sound.The bottom line: another excellent entry into Junior Wells' library. Though not quite the perfection he would achieve on "Hoodoo Man Blues," it's pretty close, and a more than worthy addition to any blues fan's collection."

This is the best Junior Wells cd that will ever be.

. | Chicago, IL USA | 07/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1965's "Hoodoo Man" may be the best known, but it's been all downhill for Wells since this amazing stuff, done as a teenager in the fifties. Featuring guitar by Louis Myers, Elmore James, and Muddy Waters. Blues lovers should tell their punk-rock loving friends about this one: this has all the spirit of a young man's urge to break all the rules, but with CHOPS."

"Electric Blues"

Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 11/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Remembering that these recordings are nearly 50 years old, the quality of the recording session really is "electric" with Wells at his most swaggering and soaring.Add to that the fact that the two different bands had Muddy Waters and Elmore James playing in them, and that Louis and Dave Myers were empathetic to what Wells could do, this re-release is most welcome.At its best the material is excellent (Listen to "Hoodoo Man") and even where he covers standards Wells bring something different to the tracks.Good too that there are alternate takes on four of the tunes.This really is a "must have" reissue from the consistently excellent United re-releases from Delmark."