Mighty Joe Young – Bluesy Josephine – Evidence ECD-26023-2

What can I say?  I am a Mighty Joe Young fan!  In November, I reviewed Young’s excellent Delmark Records release entitled Blues With A Touch Of Soul, and raved about its melding of blues and soul, all propelled by Young’s fluid vocals and refined guitar designs.   

This outing is a re-release of a 1976 collection that was chronicled in France.  These seven cuts highlight the fervency and extent of Young’s honied, flowing, yet unassailable guitar labors.  His composed, stately vocals continually hit the spot expressively, and there is tautness to these recordings that absolutely depict Young as he was frequently beheld during one of his sets at Chicago’s famed north side music club of yesteryear, Wise Fools Pub on N. Lincoln Ave.  There, Young always seemed relaxed and in a venue that brought out his best when he decided to play with opposing restrained refinement and a contrasting lack of restraint; he always seemed comfortable there to play as he pleased when he pleased.  That is the impression this assemblage provides.  Young’s energies here come through as ironic, as they seem both delightfully understated at one turn, and then ensue substantial in the next breath.  Perhaps that is why so many blues fans and reviewers have found his recorded handiwork appealing, in that that contradiction underlined Young’s capacity to flawlessly control diverging musical undercurrents and ultimately fabricate such a pleasing whole. 

Backing Young on this outing are bluesmen who knew how to ideally intertwine with Young’s blues visions, including Willie “The Touch” Hayes providing percussion duties, low-end bass authority Cornelius Boyson, keyboard specialist Ken Sajdak, with Willie Mabon also offering his broad keyboard aptitudes. 

Below is running order of the tracks on this exceptional CD.

Seek this one out!  You will not be disappointed.  This collection is essential in the understanding of modern Chicago blues!