I saw what would have been one of the great Hubert Sumlin's last shows. I was in Chicago and managed to catch a tribute show marking Robert Johnson's 100th Birthday and Hubert played a twenty minute set. At that stage he was dependent on an oxygen machine but still managed to play. He died not much later and one of the nice stories that accompanied that sad news and all the obituaries was that Keith Richards and Mick Jagger dug into their pockets to pay for Hubert's funeral.One of the architects of rock and roll and revered by many of the English Blues freaks of the 60's Hubert was the Guitar Player behind Howlin' Wolf. He created one of the most distinctive and influential sounds around the blues.
This album features a mix of Willie Dixon and Muddy Water's songs with one Sumlin original. Hubert is supported throughout by cast of stars and seasoned session musicians and generally leaves the vocals to others. Among those that joined him are Levon Helm from The Band, Blondie Chaplin (the Beachboys and the Stones touring band) and David Johansen from the New York Dolls.
However the undoubted highlights come from the inspired performances playing with Hubert that come from Eric Clapton ( has he sounded more alive in the last 30 year's ago than he does on the opening I'm Ready and Long Distance Call?) and Keith Richards produces an atmospheric Still a fool. It shows what being in the company of your hero can do.
On the final track, This is the end little girl, Hubert steps to the mic and closes the album in style
No comments:
Post a Comment