Raw (CD - 2007)

Bobby Rush has spent most of his career on the so-called "chitlin' circuit" in the South, cementing his status as the king of soul blues, but RAW goes far beyond Rush's usual sexed-up R&B approach. Here, he reaches deep into his heart to tap into his Delta and Chicago influences. With just his acoustic guitar and harmonica for company, he digs into a mix of classics ("School Girl," "Boney Maroney") and originals with a sound that can be triangulated somewhere between Muddy Waters's acoustic recordings, early Snooks Eaglin, and Bukka White, bringing just a touch of funk to these deep-down blues tunes. RAW is the album many Rush admirers have secretly been hoping he'd make for years, and the results prove to have been worth the wait. minimize