Carey & Lurrie Bell – Son Of A Gun –Rooster Blues Records R 2617 (LP)

Extremely skillful on both diatonic and chromatic blues harmonica, Carey Bell was a modern-day blues treasure.  Across the panorama of this release on the diatonic harmonica, he magnificently bestows his blues concepts.  He provides solos that utilize to the best effects the full aural scope of the instrument, regularly within the same solo and tune.  When Bell switches to the usage of the chromatic harmonica, he ably sets both dark, serious blues temperaments, and yet also engages the instrument to skate joyously with equally rich cumulative tonal merits. 

One area where Bell maybe hasn’t gotten his fair shake is for his vocals.  His is a world-weary type, outwardly communicating that he has genuinely lived his blues, the situations and circumstances that he is singing about.  Yet, Bell is entirely skilled in rejoicing a given life situation via his vocals.  He, one more time, should be known more abundantly for his vocal might.

Lurrie Bell ideally complements the program here, and is discerning, yet just amply experimental in his guitar solos and overall efforts to suggest what impending blues guitar accomplishments he would later realize.  His blues pedigree offered him the knowledge to superlatively hone and refine his artistry, and he never over-steps.  Rather, his six-string labors appear a flawless musical factor within the structures of the compositions found here. 

Lurrie’s singing is strong and confident, and presents a young bluesman with a purpose.

On this blues journey, the impression is that it was the convictions of two blues minds, father and son, framing the same desired ends for the blues being offered.

This 1984 collection, with guest backing vocalist Karen Carroll, drummers James Harrington and Theodore Davies, bassist John Ervin, guitarist Eli Murray, and backing vocalist Jimmie Sims captures the Bell family patriarch and his extremely gifted son in superb form.  

Below are the tracks from this superlative modern-day blues collection.

Song Titles

• Ballbuster
• Better Break It Up
• I’m A Fool
• I’ll Be Your 44
• Kick Me In The Pants
• Rollin’ & Tumblin’
• Worried Heartache Blues
• Highway Is My Life
• My baby
• If The Ocean Was Whiskey
• I’ve Got To Leave Chi-Town
• Gate Bait

This is a highly recommended document, and one your collection would benefit from!