Snooky Pryor – In This Mess Up To My Chest – Antone’s Records ANT 0028

One generally knows what they’re getting with a latter-day blues harmonica titan Snooky Pryor collection; shuffling beats and boogie structures, squalling harmonica solos, and wry, smart lyrics.  Then, why do they so completely and uniformly satisfy? 

This 1994 12-song outing finds Pryor at his whimsical blues best, belting his blues visions with authority and confidence, providing exuberant harmonica windstorms that so immensely satisfy as to be nothing short of a true blues party on their own.  And when backed by the tremendous, highly supportive cast of backing characters such as those found here, Pryor can only be said to be at the height of his broad blues powers.

Advancing their vast skill sets in support of Pryor are guitarists Derek O’Brien, Hubert Sumlin, Luther Tucker, Junior Watson, and Mel Brown, bassists Calvin “Fuzz” Jones, Preston Hubbard, and Bob Stroger, drummers Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Ted Harvey, and pianists Pinetop Perkins and Gene Taylor.  This is not to imply that simply backloading a set with a wealth of talent ensures success, but in this case, the assembled contributors bring to the project elevated reverence for both the blues and Pryor’s position in the annals of the blues as to ensure their loftiest powers shine through.

Front-to-back, from track 1 to 12, the blues fan who enjoys this rollicking set will come away with knowing what they have partaken in a celebratory sojourn into the belly of the blues by a master of the genre whose legacy is secure and titanic.  This CD provides that lasting impression.  Period.

As Snooky often said, “Let’s work it!”, “Cheer up buster!”, and “Goodbye now!”.  Man, what a talent!

Highly-recommended without qualification!