“Gatemouth” Brown – The Chronological “Gatemouth” Brown 1952-1954 – Classics 5127

Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown can rightfully be remembered as one of the finest American multi-instrumentalists.  Given Brown’s lofty proficiencies on guitar, fiddle, harmonica, viola, piano, drums, and mandolin, he was able to ply his considerable talents to a variety of musical categories including blues, calypso, country, Cajun, in solo, small combo, and big-band formats.  Brown himself labeled his high capabilities as a meld entitled “American Music, Texas Style.”

To say that Brown’s premier musical dexterities influenced many would be the grossest of understatements.  Performers from The Master Of The Telecaster, Albert Collins, free-form musical improvisational maestro Frank Zappa, Texas journeyman bluesman Johnny Clyde Copeland, and blues-rock idol Stevie Ray Vaughan all were stimulated in their pursuits by Brown’s mix of musical tailoring.

This 2005 release from the Classics label from within its Blues & Rhythm series is an 18-cut primer of Brown’s esteemed musical competencies.  Highlights here are difficult to pick, as this collection is a veritable all-star assemblage of Brown’s early best.  However, tunes such as Brown standards “Okie Dokie Stomp,” “Midnight Hour,” “Gate Walks To Board,” “That’s Your Daddy Yaddy Yo,” “She Winked Her Eye,” and “You Got Money” stand tall amidst 12 additional majestic selections. 

The arrangements on these superb tunes are unrelenting for their devotion to big-band-ish blues gist, with full horn sections, rock-solid percussion, and firm rhythmic construction.  Sound production is top-tier, and as an introduction to Brown’s amazing work, this collection is idyllic.

In the late 1980s, Brown brought his show to the Center Street Blues Café in Mishawaka, Indiana.  The last vision I had of Brown when I was leaving the venue in the wee hours of the morning was of him sitting on-stage with his fiddle in hand fronting a dance workout number to a still-partying audience, the majority of whom were bopping on the dancefloor.  What a night!

This collection is considered essential!  Add this to your blues collection soon!