Just the Blues (CD - 1999)

Personnel includes: Robert Jr. Lockwood (vocals, acoustic & electric 6- & 12-string guitars); Johnny Shines (acoustic & electric guitars); Scott Billington (harmonica); Bobby Marcus (alto saxophone); Harold D. Arnold, Sr, (tenor saxophone); Harold S. Arnold, Jr. (electric piano); James C Garrett (bass); Wilford Core (drums).

Producers: Robert Jr. Lockwood, Johnny Shines.

Recorded in 1980-81. Includes liner notes by Frank-John Hadley.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

This is part of Bullseye's Blues Basics series.

Personnel: Robert Lockwood, Jr. (vocals, guitar, electric 12-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Johnny Shines (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Scott Billington (harmonica); Carl Carter (piano); Wirtford Core (drums).

Audio Mixer: Paul Mufson.

Liner Note Author: Frank John Hadley.

Recording information: Agency Recording Studio, Cleveland, OH (01/16/1980-04/06/1981); Dimension Sound, Jamaica Plain, MA (01/16/1980-04/06/1981); The Mixing Lab, Newton, MA (01/16/1980-04/06/1981).

Photographer: Jack Vartoogian.

This brings together all the Lockwood-fronted tracks from his two Rounder albums with Johnny Shines. Lockwood shines on a brace of originals that range from jazzy to bluesy to proto-funk ("Here It Is, Brother") as well as tackling everything from Larry Darnell's swinging "For You My Love" to Leroy Carr's "Mean Mistreater." Featuring Lockwood in duo settings with Shines and with a full band of Cleveland regulars, this is a nice sampling of one of the blues' most exploratory musicians. ~ Cub Koda minimize