Henrietta Records artist: Charlie Musselwhite - I Ain't Lyin' ... - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, I Ain't Lyin'..., from Charlie Musselwhite and its Chicago style blues pure and simple. Opening with Latin flavored, Good Blues Tonight, Musselwhite is joined by Matt Stubbs on guitar, June Core on drums and Steve Froberg on bass. With classic Musselwhite harp styling and a snazzy guitar solo by Stubbs this is a cool opener. Elmore James' Done Somebody Wrong, is up next and has classic 70's arrangement not unlike Beck and Page or the Allmans but with Musselwhite's signature vocals and harp riffs. Stubbs has a clean guitar dialog which, with cool vibrato has a punch of it's own. Long Lean Lanky Mama is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's freewheeling harp and deliberate guitar attack. Very nice! Slow blues, Always Been Your Friend, really gives Stubbs a solid floor to solo on guitar and Musselwhite delivers nicely on harp and vocals. Morganfield style, If I Should Have Bad Luck, is a great toe tapper with a classic 12 bar bottom. Musselwhite's trademark tone and phrasing is perfect on this number and Stubbs hits it running in pure Chicago style. My Kinda Gal is a high power track with hot riffs. Both Musselwhite and Stubbs unload on this track, Stubbs at time with almost Western style riffs. very cool! Cool shuffle track, Blues, Why Do You Worry Me, hits a fine groove , set by Froberg and Musselwhite hits it square on. Walking guitar riffs by Stubbs are placed in perfect style making this another of my favorites on the release. Continuing in cool Chicago style, 300 Miles To Go, has a great energy and Musselwhite's phrasing is pure and tight. Stubbs adds another of his slick solos adding even more texture to an already strong track. Long Leg Woman digs in the funk with bass,guitar & drum rhythm section giving Musselwhite a solid vehicle to solo over. A cool departure and solid track, this track has a nice feel. Duke Pearson penned instrumental ballad, Cristo Redentor, is a super track with Musselwhite playing the melody on harp. This is a very nice track and gives Musselwhite the opportunity to play outside of the box. Excellent! Wrapping the release is an unedited version of Good Blues Tonight. With it's Latin flavor, clean riffs and great tone, it's a great closer as it was opener.

 

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