Search - Big Joe Williams :: Shake Your Boogie

King of the 9-String Guitar

Jim Ervin | New Castle, DE United States | 11/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How many people do you know that play a 9-string guitar? There's just one person that I know of and that's Big Joe Williams. On "Shake Your Boogie" every one of the 24 songs ring with the desparation of the Mississippi Delta, and through Big Joe's guitar and his booming, ragged voice it's evident that he lived every word he sang. Half of the songs were recorded in 1960 and the other half in 1969, and Big Joe and his guitar are in fine form on both sessions. Of the songs, most notable are "President Roosevelt", "The Death of Dr. Martin Luther King" and "Army Man In Vietnam". Big Joe's wife Mary turns in a powerful vocal turn on the track "I Want My Crown". On the more humorous side, Big Joe laments his love live (or lack thereof) on "Vitamin A Blues". Three cuts feature Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica, which adds a nice compliment to Joe's driving rhythm. If you want authentic Delta blues the way it was meant to be sang and played, buy this CD. I highly recommend it!"