Junior Wells – Hoodoo Man Blues – Delmark DD-612

It remains the best-selling blues collection in Delmark Records’ history, and for great reasons.  Up until his passing in 1998, Wells was the ranking elder statesman of the Chicago blues harmonica scene (with Wells born in 1934 and Billy Boy Arnold having been born in 1935), a highly influential bluesman who persisted to ply his trade on the local, national, and international blues maps, infusing into his rabid audiences his mixture of unadulterated Chicago blues and metropolitan, uptown funk that he was revered for bestowing.  He apprenticed in the blues aggregations of blues behemoth Muddy Waters and the crack band The Aces, a group that was comprised of the celebrated Myers brothers (Louis on guitar, harmonica, and vocals, with Dave on bass and vocals) and esteemed drummer Fred Below, and these opportunities were the breaks from which Wells forever dedicated himself throughout his long career to remaining true to blues traditions.  Wells devoted himself, as well, to the goal of never failing to grasp and release an audience until he had given everything to a performance.  Surely, Wells’ enduring connection with Chicago blues guitar icon Buddy Guy also fed his passionate aspiration to always leave a crowd craving more, as they were a phenomenal pairing.  This set is essential without qualification because it was the earliest modern blues outing to feature an actual working blues group, a cohesive band forged via innumerable club one-nighters.  Wells is poised and expressive in his vocal duties, and his harmonica designs blisters everything and everyone in their path.  Be it an unhurried blues, a rocking up-tempo tune, or an instrumental, Wells establishes his lofty competencies with strutting self-assurance and aplomb.  

If you don’t have this astounding release in your collection, now’s the time to right that wrong!  Essential, essential, essential!

Below is the running track order of this awe-inspiring CD!

Song Titles

• Snatch It Back And Hold It
• Ships On The Ocean
• Good Morning Schoolgirl
• Hound Dog
• In The Wee Hours
• Hey Lawdy Mama
• Hoodoo Man Blues
• Early In The Morning
• We’re Ready
• You Don’t Love Me Baby
• Chitlin Con Carne
• Yonder Wall
• Hoodoo Man Blues (alternate)
• Chitlin Con Carne (alternate)