Big Twist And The Mellow Fellows – Live From Chicago! Bigger Than Life!! – Alligator Records ALCD 4755

Larry “Big Twist” Nolan was the embodiment of the image he so cleverly cultivated, “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy,” and the full-on party essence that moniker brought along with it.  To simply infer that the band was one of the most in-demand across the Midwest, especially at colleges and universities in the 1980s, is the epitome of an understatement.  The group’s infectious meld of R&B, blues, rock-n-roll, and soul made them a party band of the highest order.  Horn-soaked and saucy, with Twist’s gargantuan presence (say, 300 pounds and about 6’4’’), this was the band to get people out on the dancefloor.

Twist’s pedigree in music actually began in the 1950s in southern Illinois where he played drums in various bands.  In the early 1970s in Carbondale, Illinois, saxophone player Terry Ogolini and guitarist Pete Special led the build of the first Mellow Fellows incarnation, with Twist manning the drums.  The word was out, and The Mellow Fellows owned Carbondale.

In 1978, the entire group moved to Chicago where they promptly signed with the Flying Fish imprint, releasing collections in 1980 and 1982.      In 1983, the band made a move to Alligator Records where they released Playing For Keeps that same year, an outing that released the unit’s “no holds barred” approach upon the blues-loving public, with Twist out front and center with his outsized personality, with the result being the band’s recognition growing immensely.

The eight-song party that is Live From Chicago! Bigger Than Life!! took the party aspect of the band’s performance to an entirely other level; with this collection, all the fuss was now documented.  Highlights included “The Sweet Sound Of Rhythm And Blues,” “Steamroller Blues,” “Too Much Barbeque,” “Turning Point,” and “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy.” 

In living rooms around the world, the festivity that was a Big Twist And The Mellow Fellows was conveyed.  It was a delightful, sweaty trip to the club without leaving home.              

It wasn’t to last, as Twist passed in 1990.  But this recorded document is testament to his and the band’s zeal on any given bandstand.

This is a highly recommended CD.  Enjoy!