|  By
Cornbread
 Big
George Brock & The Houserockers –
Club Caravan
{2005 | Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art}
Club Caravan is electrified
Delta blues by 73-year-old, Big George Brock.
Big George was born in Grenada, Mississippi
on May 16, 1932. On this CD Big George covers
the harp and vocals, and the Riley Coatie (guitar)
family blues band add backing (Tekora on bass,
Latasha on keys and Riliy Jr. on drums)... recorded
at Jimbo Mathus' studio in historic Clarksdale,
Mississippi on May 7, 2005.
Growing up in Mississippi, Brock
worked in the cotton fields during the week
and played blues and boxed on the weekends.
St. Louis’ own BBs Jazz
Blues and Soups will host the CD release party
for Club Caravan on Thursday, September 22,
2005 at 9:30 pm.
Twelve
tracks as a result of 3 ½ hours in the
studio.
1.
Houserocker Boogie – blues harp,
a bit of drum and what sounds like an upright
bass.
2. Call Me A Lover –
an Albert King like shuffle with distorted vocals,
in a live muted recording.
3. Little Baby – by Willie
Dixon, a great blues tune.
4. M For Mississippi –
mostly harp and vocals, flashback sixty years
to Mississippi.
5. Honest I Do – an excellent
track that combines the good old fifties with
blues. Great harmonica.
6. All Night Long – the
guitar and bass seemed like a blues jam session
backing Delta vocals/song. The harmonica helped
bridge the two.
7. Nine Below Zero –
while this was done by Muddy it sure reminded
me of him.
8. Hard Times – cool
acoustic guitar and vocals, now that’s
old school Delta blues.
9. Club Caravan – the
title track is a slow burnin’ lectric
blues guitar instrumental gem.
10. Louisiana Blues –
song originally by Muddy, great vocals.
11. Too Young – slow,
tasteful harmonica blowin’ and soulful
singing full of mojo.
12. Down South – much
like track 7, I had Muddy flashbacks.
This
CD captures old school, raw live recordings you’d
expect in a juke joint. Nothin’ real fancy
hear, just plain ol’ fashioned blues. I’d
have to bet it was done with two-track and no tricks,
smoke or mirrors. It’s a bit delta and bit
Chicago guitar at times. The tracks I liked the
best 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11.
Ciao'
for now, peace.
Peter 'Cornbread' Cohen,
CBP
~
Cornbread@STLBlues.net
|
