Search - Siegel-Schwall Band :: R.I.P. Siegel-Schwall Band

AHHHH....Bliss!!

William H. Haines | Nashville, TN | 07/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"R.I.P. was the final studio album released by the Siegel-Schwall Band before they called it quits for good back in 1974. Well, almost for good...they got back together in 1987 and did a couple of shows which resulted in a live album (check out "The Reunion Concert" on Alligator records) and the response was so good that they decided to commit to a few gigs together every year (much to my extreme delight!!) and are still going strong.This record was all cover versions of some of thier favorite tunes by artists near and dear to them, done the way they always wanted. This record bursts with joy, to my ears, as they jam away on some early and contempoary blues by Jimmy Walker, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, John Prine, and others. They even left in a few techical clunkers (a flubbed guitar note on "Women Make A Fool Out Of Me") which just adds to the charm and goodtime feel that this album kisses the ears of the listener with. Jim's version of John Prine's "Pretty Good" will get you out of your seat and shakin' a leg, and Muddy Water's "Long Distance Call", long a crowd favorite at the band's concerts, makes it's first appearance on a Siegel-Schwall album here. Sung by Rollo Radford, the band's bassist, he injects the song with his own special brand of humor and wit. Corky's harmonica and piano shine throughout and his vocals on "Take Out Some Insurance On Me" are spot on.This is a must own. I love it and you will too, just try it and see."