Classic L.J.B.
Sam Mosley | Toronto, Ontario | 08/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Little Joe Blue spent a majority of his career recording singles for a variety of labels and this cd collects many of them. Blue's voice was quite reminiscent of BB King's but he had his own style and didn't simply copy everything that King did. The style of blues is slick, urban blues with horns and plenty of lead guitar playing from Blue. Present here is his big hit, the classic slow blues "Dirty Work Going On" and Blue would continue recording songs along that theme, his woman cheating on him. This was not all he sung about, though. "Don't Tax Me In" is a social commentary about poor people. "Doin' Some Serious Living" is about pretty much what the title says and the two-part "Give Me an Hour in Your Garden" is a humorous innuendo blues.
While Little Joe Blue never enjoyed the success of many of his peers, he has left behind some classic blues music for us to remember him by. Pick up this CD as well as the Evejim collection of his two late 80's LP's."
Truly one of a kind
LongSchlong | 06/26/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Little Joe Blue is one heck of a blues singer, 2nd maybe only to B.B. King, his main influence. Blue enjoyed a somewhat succesful career, with just one hit, but it got him on the charts, and hsi records always have sold very well. Blue has a gutsy voice, a very appealing baritone, that sounds truthful and powerful. One of his more famous tunes is Shopping Instead Blues, however this whole disc is great, maybe just one dud, but otherwise all the tunes are gems, and Little Joe Blue can uplift even the most mundane arrangement. These 60's urban blues sides, are powerful and timeless, and a lot of fun. An overall great straight blues vocal cd."