Willie Dixon With Memphis Slim - 1959 - Willie’s Blues (20

Willie Dixon With Memphis Slim - 1959 - Willie’s Blues (2002)
Analogue Productions, 2 × LP, Album, Reissue, 45 RPM, 180g, vinyl rip at 24 bits, 96 KHz

According to the original liner notes, this 1959 Willie Dixon session was cut during a two hour span in between flights. This certainly explains the relaxed, jam session feel of the recordings. Unfortunately, the songs come out sounding sluggish and stilted at times; this is partly due, no doubt, to the makeshift nature of the date, but also, more surprisingly, because of drummer Gus Johnson's overly slick and formalized playing. On top of this, one has to contend with Dixon's less-then-inspired vocals -- it's Dixon's writing talents and A&R savvy in the blues world that warrant him a place in the pantheon, not his skills at the microphone. That all said, this still is an enjoyable disc to listen to, not least of all because of the quality of Dixon's many originals and the freshness of pianist Memphis Slim's playing. And while the vaudevillian comedy of a song like "Built for Comfort" can be traced to Dixon's earlier pop R&B work with the Big Three Trio, rougher blues standouts like "Go Easy" and "Move Me" lead back to the Chicago blues world Dixon shared with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Not a first disc for curious listeners, but certainly a pleasant enough addition to the blues lover's collection. (AllMusic)

Track list:
A1 - Nervous
A2 - Good Understanding
A3 - That's My Baby
B1 - Slim's Thing
B2 - That's All I Want Baby
B3 - Don't You Tell Nobody
B4 - Youth To You
C1 - Sittin' And Cryin' The Blues
C2 - Built For Comfort
C3 - I Got A Razor
D1 - Go Easy
D2 - Move Me

Personnel:
Bass, Vocals – Willie Dixon
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Wally Richardson
Piano – Memphis Slim
Tenor Saxophone – Al Ashby

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