Search - Big Jack Johnson :: All the Way Back

A hearty servin' of fine southern blues

Denis | NJ, USA | 06/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard Big Jack's tune called "Crack-headed Woman" on Pandora radio, and hearing that hard-driving rhythm backed by the gruff, meaty guitar tone got me taking a closer look at this CD. Since I got this album, I wasn't disappointed with a single tune on it. All of the songs are written by Big Jack, and he covers a variety of different styles, while staying right in the middle of the real down-home electrical blues.



"I wanna know" is fast-paced and upbeat. "Crack-headed woman" is rough and nasty and has a very addictive rhythm to it. "Lonely man" is about as bluesy as blues gets, and Big Jack brings is all the way back to the basics, with juicy vocals, guitar, and genius piano work by guest Little Anthony Geraci. "Miss Magalee Hall" is a fast blues boogey backed by harmonica. You could go dancing to "Cant stop me" and instrumental "All messed up". "Black dog" is somewhat in the style of Hound Dog Taylor's houserockin' music. "Shake your bootie" is just what it sounds like - a playful dance track, which is kind of a surprise among other selections on this album, but is a welcome way to mix things up a bit! Big Jack takes it down to a one-man act on "I can't get no lovin'" - just the man's soft-spoken vocals and his superb electrical guitar. "I'm your oilman" takes it back to gritty, slow, hard-hitting blues, complete with some growling and excellent guitar work, ranging from gruff to stinging.



I will be seeking out more of Big Jack Johnson's records after this one. His guitar playing is surprisingly original and mixes a range of tones, from Albert King's stinging and note-bending to Hendrix's gruff rock tone. He can be fast or slow, rough or mellow, precise or note-bending, and other times he'd just tease some strange sounds out of that instrument that will leave you wondering.



Big Jack's vocals are both soft and gritty at the same time, with plenty heart and soul in all of his singing. His voice is what really fills out his originality on the blues scene, in addition to his gifted guitar playing. The man's the real thing. If you appreciate blues, he's the man who keeps the authentic blues sound of the long-gone masters alive in the 21st century."