Back in the 1980s, Kim Wilson was merely one member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, a quartet that was as much a showcase for its never-waste-a-note guitarist Jimmie Vaughan as it was for its lead singer and harmonica player... more ». But the rest of the T-Birds exited during the early '90s, and now the T-Birds are Wilson and anyone he hires for a particular album or tour. Their most recent studio outing, with co-producers Steve Jordan and Danny Kortchmar, leans toward their own backgrounds more than the scrappier blues of the past. Happily, Kim Wilson's 1997 solo album, My Blues, tilts the blues-rock formula decidedly in the opposite direction. The rhythm on this project--built around acoustic piano, acoustic bass, and a small drum kit--is light and swinging, evoking the jazzy blues of pianists Roy Milton and Roosevelt Sykes more than the blues-rock of the T-Birds. The 15 songs feature two compositions apiece by Milton, Sykes, Little Walter, and Wilson as well as blues standards by Jerry McCain, Eddie Boyd, and Sonny Boy Williamson. These understated performances revive a bygone era quite enjoyably but they lack the modern ambitions of the best Thunderbirds recordings. --Geoffrey Himes« less
Back in the 1980s, Kim Wilson was merely one member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, a quartet that was as much a showcase for its never-waste-a-note guitarist Jimmie Vaughan as it was for its lead singer and harmonica player. But the rest of the T-Birds exited during the early '90s, and now the T-Birds are Wilson and anyone he hires for a particular album or tour. Their most recent studio outing, with co-producers Steve Jordan and Danny Kortchmar, leans toward their own backgrounds more than the scrappier blues of the past. Happily, Kim Wilson's 1997 solo album, My Blues, tilts the blues-rock formula decidedly in the opposite direction. The rhythm on this project--built around acoustic piano, acoustic bass, and a small drum kit--is light and swinging, evoking the jazzy blues of pianists Roy Milton and Roosevelt Sykes more than the blues-rock of the T-Birds. The 15 songs feature two compositions apiece by Milton, Sykes, Little Walter, and Wilson as well as blues standards by Jerry McCain, Eddie Boyd, and Sonny Boy Williamson. These understated performances revive a bygone era quite enjoyably but they lack the modern ambitions of the best Thunderbirds recordings. --Geoffrey Himes
CD Reviews
This IS Kim Wilson
Jim "Clubman" Allen | Massachusetts | 03/21/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this CD at his show in Maynard, MA on 3/18/2000 at the Sit'n Bull Pub. I saw the man perform that night...what a show! I listened to this CD the next morning and it was as good as the show...maybe that is why it is titled "My Blues". His "Live-to-tape" recording method does this band justice! There is no mixing magic here, what they played is what you bought! You hear the band, in their element. I can recommend this CD to anyone who truly enjoys Blues without being afraid they might not like it. If I were Merrill-Lynch, I'd rate this one a "BUY"!"
Great cd for kim's vocals & awesome harp
Jim "Clubman" Allen | 10/03/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"kim has outdone himself on this one. listened to it on the way home the other night and was floored, not only by the tune selection but by the recording method of hifi mono. sounds great and even recommend it to the savvy a##holes at living blues, who said this cd wasn't worth anything."
A True Bluesman!
Sanzar Q | PARKTON, MD United States | 07/17/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Kim Wilson stays very busy on the road theses days, alternating tours as frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds and occasionally hitting the clubs with his Blues Review. If you've been to any of his solo shows, then you know what to expect on this fine album - many well-crafted covers of older blues material, sprinkled with a few Wilson originals. Most of the tunes here don't begin to approach the raucousness of many crowd pleasing T-bird favorites, but they are just as satisfying. Eschewing the latest digital technology, this CD is recorded live & retro-style, in Hi-Fi mono, to give you that "latenight, juke joint" feel. Nearly every tune is a stand-out, in it's own way, w/ "West Helena Woman", "Date Bait" and "Your Funeral & My Trial" leading the way. Definitely a "Buy" for Blues fans."
Another FABULOUS Outing!!
Screamin' Armadillo | Fort Worth, TEXAS | 02/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In some peoples' minds, Kim Wilson will always be the guy who belted out "Tuff Enuff" with the Fabulous Thunderbirds; however, that is selling him wa-a-a-ay too short.
People who know him only for that one song don't know that he is possibly the greatest blues harp player in history (that's harmonica to all you non-blues cats).
That attitude ignores the legendary years of woodshedding and paying their dues as the house band of Antone's Blues Bar in Austin, Texas, backing up everyone from Muddy Waters to Buddy Guy to Albert Collins to Albert King... and many, many more.
It also pushes aside the (excellent) early Fabulous Thunderbirds albums "Girls Go Wild" (1979), "What's The Word" (1980), "Butt Rockin'" (1981) and "T-Bird Rhythm" (1982).
Those people are also forgetting the commercially successful eighties blues-rock-pop of "Tuff Enuff" (1986), "Hot Number" (1987), and "Powerful Stuff" (1989).
Founding member Jimmie Vaughan left the fold in 1990 (which would have been a death sentence for less hardy bands). Instead, it led to the reformation album "Walk That Walk" (1991) with two former members of Roomful of Blues.
Later, leaner, meaner and "tuff-er" than ever, the group put out one of the best blues-rock discs of the 1990's with "Roll of the Dice" (1995) with Kid Ramos laying down the guitar tracks. It was followed by "High Water" (1997), which paired him with Danny Kortchner and Steve Jordan...and most recently in 2005, the expanded and funkier T-Birds released "Painted On".
Meanwhile, in the early 90's Wilson had formed another band, the Kim Wilson Blues Review. Originally a touring band consisting of various sidemen he had performed with over the years, this group allowed him the freedom of playing the West-Coast jump blues and Little Walter-inspired forays into harp heaven as well as the Texas Blues for which he is so well known. He teamed up with old friends Clifford Antone and Derek O'Brien to record his first and second solo outings "Tigerman" (1993) and "That's Life" (1994).
This 1997 disc, "My Blues", was the first disc on his own Blue Collar Music label, and was recorded in the retro-cool method of Hi-Fi Mono directly to an Ampex two-track recorder. If it sounds like a cool old Chess recording from the 50's, that's because it was laid down that way.
From 40's West Coast jump blues to funky forays down New Orleans way, early 60's Soul to 50's Chicago grooves, Kansas City swing to West Helena guts, and throw in some Golden Triangle (Texas/Lousiana Coastline) Juke Joint nastiness, this disc as it all.
Overall, this is a great example of Kim Wilson's heart and soul, blues and funk, rock and roll...but most of all, it showcases the unknown genius he possesses.
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1