Hoodoo Man Blues [Bonus Tracks] (CD - 1965)

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois on September 22 & 23, 1965. Includes liner notes by Bob Koester.

Personnel: Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica); Buddy Guy (vocals, guitar); Bill Warren (drums).

Liner Note Author: Bob Koester.

Recording information: 1965.

Photographer: Greg Roberts.

One of the truly classic blues albums of the 1960s, and one of the first to fully document the smoky ambience of a night at a West Side nightspot in the superior acoustics of a recording studio. Wells just set up with his usual cohorts -- guitarist Buddy Guy (billed as "Friendly Chap" on first vinyl pressings), bassist Jack Myers, and drummer Billy Warren -- and proceeded to blow up a storm, bringing an immediacy to "Snatch It Back and Hold It," "You Don't Love Me," "Chitlin con Carne," and the rest of the tracks that is absolutely mesmerizing. ~ Bill Dahl

HOODOO MAN BLUES is one of the great albums from the era of classic Chicago blues. Though usually overshadowed by mid-century Chicago legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells ranks among the most dynamic and satisfying performers of the milieu, and his explosive harmonica playing and charismatic vocals come through like gangbusters on this 1965 release. The record has the added distinction of being one of the first long-playing blues albums to hit the scene (blues had largely been confined to 45s prior to its release).

The sessions benefit from notably clean production and fine musicianship (Buddy Guy appears on lead guitar). The band is energetic and plays with equal parts precision and abandon, creating the perfect canvas for Wells's sly, sexy frontman antics. Unlike a lot of his contemporaries, Wells was not afraid to incorporate the influence of R&B and rock & roll ("Snatch It Back and Hold It"), and his music has an accessible edge as a result, though he downshifts to slow-burn blues with perfect ease ("In the Wee Hours"). Sometimes fiercely electrifying, sometimes as laid-back and gauzy as barroom smoke, HOODOO MAN BLUES is a must for any comprehensive blues library.

One of the truly classic blues albums of the 1960s, and one of the first to fully document the smoky ambience of a night at a West Side nightspot in the superior acoustics of a recording studio. Wells just set up with his usual cohorts -- guitarist Buddy Guy (billed as "Friendly Chap" on first vinyl pressings), bassist Jack Myers, and drummer Billy Warren -- and proceeded to blow up a storm, bringing an immediacy to "Snatch It Back and Hold It," "You Don't Love Me," "Chitlin con Carne," and the rest of the tracks that is absolutely mesmerizing. [This version contains alternate takes of "Hoodoo Man Blues" and "Chitlin con Carne."] ~ Bill Dahl minimize