Sunnyland Slim & Johnny Shines - The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (2008)

×

Sunnyland Slim & Johnny Shines - The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (2008)

Close

Combining sessions that blues pianist Sunnyland Slim and blues guitarist Johnny Shines recorded separately on the same day in Chicago in 1968 for the Blue Horizon imprint, this interesting little set shows two blues veterans doing what it was they did, which was, in part, to push and pull the Delta blues one small step closer to being in the modern urban world. The Slim sides, several of which are new to digital disc, are a bit more interesting than the Shines sides, but only by degree. Slim's songs can appear on the surface to be tossed-off exercises in the usual blues clichés, but they were actually carefully written, while Shines worked similar territory, giving old blues figures a slightly ironic twist. Since both played at one time or another with Robert Johnson, and both straddle the old and new worlds of the blues as it transfigured into an electric and urban form, it makes perfect sense to stick these two sessions together in one package.

Review by Steve Leggett, Allmusic.com

This February 2008 UK released 23-track CD features two very rare blues albums in their entirety with three previously unreleased outtakes from the 1968 sessions - and all of it in digitally remastered form.

Here's a detailed breakdown (78:36 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 are the 10-track SUNNYLAND SLIM album "Midnight Jump" issued in January 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63213 in the UK; it wasn't issued initially in the USA, but was re-issued in 1972 in the USA with a different cover and name - it was called "Blues Masters Vol.8" and was on Blue Horizon BM 4608

Tracks 14 to 23 are the 10-track JOHNNY SHINES album "Last Night's Dream" issued in January 1969 on Blue Horizon S 7-63212 in the UK; like the Sunnyland Slim album, it was also re-issued only in 1972 in the USA with a different cover and name - "Blues Masters Vol.7" on Blue Horizon BM 4607

The three outtakes issued on this CD for the first time are:
Track 7, "Get To My Baby" [Take 2 - Previously Unreleased]
Track 10, "Midnight Jump" [Take 3 - Previously Unreleased]
Track 13, "Heartache" [Alternate Version - Previously Unreleased]
(All tracks were recorded at Chess's "Ter-Mar Recording Studios" in Chicago on 10 June 1968 - corrected from the album's sleeve notes which mistakenly credited the recording date as May 1968)

The band for both sessions were:
SUNNYLAND SLIM (Albert Luandrew) on Piano & Vocals (Tracks 1 to 13 only)
JOHNNY SHINES on Guitar (All tracks except 3, 5 and 13)
WALTER "SHAKEY" HORTON on Harmonica (All tracks except 3 and 13)
OTIS SPANN on Piano (Track 19 only)
WILLIE DIXON on Upright Bass (All tracks except 13 to 17, 20, 22 and 23)
CLIFTON JAMES on Drums (All tracks except 13, 14, 17 and 22)

The original master tapes were transferred and remastered by SEAN LYNCH at Torch Music in Berkshire and SIMON WOOD at Dubmaster Studios in Hampshire and while Sunnyland Slim's album is clean, clear and ballsy sounding - the Johnny Shines album is very hissy on a good few of the tracks. Don't get me wrong - his music is very good - eerie almost - but the hiss level and tape glitches on "I Don't Know" and "I Had A Good Home" do detract a little (four session reels are missing).

The 16-page booklet is written by label boss MIKE VERNON and features detailed biographies on the two main men and each of the session players, album recording details, photos of the original LP covers - all of it in the usual card wrap on the outside - superbly presented as ever.

Musically, this is a deceptive release - at first I honestly thought it was all a little dull - merely workmanlike - but after a few listens - it's eaten into me - especially the Shines tracks. Badly recorded or not - they're wonderfully evocative of lone-guitar-blues - the ghost of Robert Johnson hanging over every long-fingered string bend. And even more enticing is that 17 of the 23 tracks are self-penned by both artists (the other 6 are covers) - which is impressive indeed given their overall quality.

Both men had great voices and are complimented to the ninth degree by both DIXON and HORTON. Highlights include the Harmonica Driven instrumental "Lowland Blues" and a mighty Johnny Shines version of Robert Johnson's "Baby Don't You Think I Know (aka Sweet Home Chicago)" with Horton again blowing up some great Harmonica fills. The shuffle of "I Will Be Kind To You" is as infectious as blues gets - just lovely. Can't stop playing it. The three outtakes are complete versions too and it's hard to know why Take 3 was used and not Take 2 - they're equal to each other.

To sum up - yet another classy release from the Blue Horizon camp - in a long line of them. Give this CD a chance - it has rewards aplenty - it really does. Recommended.

Review by Mark Barry, Amazon.com Top Reviewer

×

Sunnyland Slim & Johnny Shines - The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (2008)

Close

×

Sunnyland Slim & Johnny Shines - The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (2008)

Close

×

Sunnyland Slim & Johnny Shines - The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions (2008)

Close