Search - Otis Spann :: Blues Never Die

Otis Sounds Like A Guest On His Own CD

Adaman | Los Angeles, CA | 01/31/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I have almost all Otis Spann's CDs and this is my least favorite so far. When I buy an Otis Spann CD, I buy it because I want to hear amazing piano playing. Unfortunately, on this CD the piano is burried deep in the mix and covered by loud guitars, drums, etc. It's almost like Otis is a guest or backup on his own CD! In fact on many songs, other people are doing the vocals! I would say skip this CD. If you want Otis at his best, I would recommend Walkin' The Blues (the sound quality is excellent and has a few piano solo numbers), Bottom Of The Blues, and Best Of Vangaurd Years."

Mississippi goes Southside

possum willie | Budapest | 05/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This fantastic CD was out of print for years and has been re-issued. Otis Spann is joined by James Cotton and Dirty Waters (AKA Muddy Waters under contract to a different label). These men were great blues men individually who also played well together. Spann's masterful blues licks, Cotton's harmonica work, and Rivers's guitar come together to make music that sporadically causes shivers at the nape of the neck and is uniformly pleasing. The vocal work is more than competent and ranges from slow blues like "One More Mile" to happy tunes, "I've Got a Feeling", to a spirited version of "Dust my Broom". Given some of the recording conditions for blues players of the day, this album was well engineered and all the instruments and vocals are clear. Hey, it's the best of the best in their heyday...strong, powerful, and soaring. It's as ageless as good single malt...meant for steady sipping over time..."

First Rate South Side Blues

D. HYDE | United Kingdom | 05/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Highlighting Otis Spann's name on the cover of this disk is a little unfair to the other participants contributing to this wonderful set of Chicago blues.For rather than being a solo show case for Spann's extraordinary piano work, this disk is in fact a fine ensemble recording made by the mid 60's incarnation of Muddy Waters band. For this recording Muddy steps well into the shadows and lets Spann and and harmonica man James Cotton handle lead vocals. This is not necessarily a bad thing as both Cotton's gruff and Spann's mush mouthed delivery are distinctive and capable. Of the soloists, Cotton comes across particularly well and both he and Spann contribute some stunning breaks. Also, of note is drummer S.P. Leary who anchors the rhythm with precision, whilst accenting the instrumental passages with economy and taste. Highlights include the bands reading of 'Dust my Broom', here delivered as a mighty blues shuffle. Cottons lead on the impassioned slow blues 'One more mile to go', featuring some great call and response with the band. Spann's lead on 'Must have been the Devil' and the bands performance on the fast boogie ' Feelin' Good' are brilliant.This session together with Spann's ABC recording 'The Bottom of the Blues' are in my opinion, the best recordings associated to Muddy Waters during the 60's and a must hear for any fan of South Side Blues. However, listeners wishing to hear Spann play solo blues piano are probably better off trying either of his Candid recordings: 'Is the Blues' and 'Walking the Blues."