Magic Sam Blues Band – Black Magic – Delmark Records DE 620 

Sam was in that astonishing collection of artists that launched out of Chicago’s fertile west side, along with fellow eventual blues guitar giants Buddy Guy and Otis Rush, to name but two, all young aspiring blues guitar practitioners who individually and together converted the weights and stresses of post-World War II Chicago urban life into a blues guitar framework that idyllically represented the neighborhoods from which it came.  The new Chicago blues sound of this period was inflamed, with assertive, wounding, and hard-hitting solos, along with firm rhythm efforts that also coursed within its veins. 

Sam’s vocals were emotional and poignant, often distributed with a ringing falsetto.  His voice was the perfect complement to his skipping and splintering style of picking, and his use of reverb molded a style that he carried throughout the total of his all-too brief career and life.

Complementing Sam on this pioneering 1969 outing, his second for Bob Koester’s Delmark Records imprint, were both Ernest Johnson and Mack Thompson on bass, with Odie Payne, Jr. providing the drumming, Stockholm Slim supplying the piano duties, and Mighty Joe Young advancing guitar support.

His premature demise at the early age of 32 halted what surely would have been a very productive career, as his noted set at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival more than hinted at the strong interest in, and possible crossover of, his plentiful musical gifts. 

Below are the running tracks on this indispensable 1969 outing.  It is considered essential without any qualifications whatsoever!

Song Titles

• I Just Want A Little Bit
• What Have I Done Wrong
• Easy, Baby
• You Belong To Me
• It’s All Your Fault
• Same Old Blues
• You Don’t Love Me, Baby
• San-Ho-Zay
• You Better Stop
• Keep On Loving Me, Baby
• What Have I Done Wrong (Alt)
• I Just Want A Little Bit (Alt)
• Everything’s Gonna Be All Right (Alt)
• Keep On Doin’ What You’re Doin’
• Blues For Odie Payne
• Same Old Blues (Alt)
• What Have I Done Wrong (Alt 2)
• Keep On Loving Me, Baby (Alt)