Speaking of venerable, Keith Richards takes lead on the following song, "Still a Fool." The song moves at a grinding pace with little more than an insistent bass drum and minimalist bass anchoring the song. The understated rhythm leaves plenty of room for Sumlin and Richards' guitars to circle, stalk, and snarl at one another.
The song selection could be a bit of a disappointment for some. Afterall, "I'm Ready" and "I Love the Life I Live, I Live the Life I Love" have been recorded 924 times each (at least!). Is there anything left to be learned from these songs? Do they have any room for further discovery? These songs are almost too good to screw up. Sumlin & Co. were wise not to try reinventing them with outrageous arrangements in an attempt to be original. These are covers of famous songs, people enjoy hearing them performed well, and About Them Shoes delivers just that.
About Them Shoes is not gut wrenching, tortured soul blues. None of the vocalists on this album have the frightening intensity of the Wolf or the deep resonance of Muddy Waters. About Them Shoes is not a party album, either. Toes will tap but they will do so while attached to bodies sitting on sofas. This is a whiskey-sipping album, not a beer-guzzling one.
Sumlin takes on the role of a victorious commander reliving his greatest conquests by taking one more spin around the field of battle. It was more exciting the first time when the fires burned hotter and danger hung in the air but this old general still remembers where the bodies are buried. It might not be the same, touring the battlefield after the fact and from a safe distance, but it is still a hell of a lot of fun.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
you are oh so right about Wolf's voice. "scary" is the word.
2 - DJRadiohead
I know The Duke has said he's not a real fan of the electric blues but I bet he would love the blood-n-guts vocalising that is The Wolf.
3 - Loofa
The Duke has said he would rather jump on a trampoline than give up his blues!!!!!!!!!!
4 - Aaron Fleming
Never realised you were such a blues-head DJ, that's some good reviewing there anyway. And I'm digging that hat on the album cover.
5 - Mark Saleski
oh, totally aaron...just about every day i get an email from the dj that starts out with "i got up this morning..."
;-)
6 - Connie Phillips
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