CD Review
Robert Lockwood Jr., David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Henry James Townsend - Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen - Live in Dallas
I am not a spiritual man by any stretch of the imagination.
HOWEVER! when I hear a CD like this and realize that two of its four artists have passed on two years after it was recorded, I thank the big Oracle in the sky that somebody in Dallas, Texas had the good sense to place Robert Lockwood Jr., David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Pinetop Perkins and Henry James Townsend together for one great evening of American Delta Blues.
It’s cliché, but this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for four of the greats to get together and have fun...and have fun they did!!
This CD was recorded in Dallas, Texas in October of 2004. Sadly, Henry James Townsend died in September, 2006 and Robert Lockwood Jr. died in November of 2006. But we will always have this treasure as a reminder of what the Delta Blues are about.
Pinetop Perkins was Muddy Water’s piano player forever. That’s how I got to know him. Then there’s Lockwood Jr. and “Honeyboy”. Both claim to have ties to Robert Johnson. Lockwood Jr.’s mom lived with Johnson off and on for about ten years and taught Lockwood Jr. how sing and play the blues. “Honeyboy” Edwards was there the night Robert Johnson drank the poison that eventually killed him. I only mention these stories because if I don’t, somebody else will. Henry Townsend became a legend by leading the St. Louis blues scene.
This Grammy award winning CD has some of the classics on it. We get to hear “Sweet Home Chicago”, “Kansas City”, “See See Rider Blues”, “Got My Mojo Working”, “Catfish Blues” and a host of other straight forward numbers.
Is this the greatest live blues CD/album of all time? No, it is not. I do feel it is very important though. I believe that we must continue to celebrate and honor the blues masters of the past. This CD accomplishes that and gives the listener a taste of what it was like when these men were young.
There is also a very positive fun quotient here. Too many people equate the blues as sad music. To me that is a shame. Only the dead won’t smile, feel good and tap their toes after listening to this artifact.
I’ve seen Lockwood Jr. and Edwards in person doing solo acoustic sets, on a couple of different occasions. I never got to see them with a large backing band. The CD provides that for the listener. It fits well and truth be told, it may fill a few of the gaps that age has created in the arsenal of these four legends.
Don’t let that sway you though from buying the CD. It’s well worth your money and your attention.
03.25.08