Homeless Child - Charlie Musselwhite, Harper, Ben [1]
My Road Lies in Darkness - Charlie Musselwhite, Musselwhite, Charli
Burn Down the Cornfield - Charlie Musselwhite, Newman, Randy
Train to Nowhere - Charlie Musselwhite, Simmonds, Kim
Shootin' for the Moon - Charlie Musselwhite, Landreth, Sonny
Shadow People - Charlie Musselwhite, Jerome, Michael
Snake Song - Charlie Musselwhite, VanZandt, Townes
The Neighborhood - Charlie Musselwhite, Sexton, Charlie
Alicia - Charlie Musselwhite, Harris, Eddie [1]
Sanctuary - Charlie Musselwhite, Breuer, Lee
I Had Trouble - Charlie Musselwhite, Musselwhite, Charli
Route 19 (Attala County, Mississippi) - Charlie Musselwhite, Musselwhite, Charli
Harmonica giant Charlie Musselwhite has evolved from stone traditionalist to blues experimentalist in recent years, with excursions into Tejano, country, and jazz. Now, with the help of Blind Boys of Alabama producer John ... more »Chelew, the 60-year-old has made a masterpiece that balances his music's Delta soul with sonic innovation. Musselwhite's world-weary singing is perfect for the haunting textures that the scraped and bell-toned guitar strings bring to "Train to Nowhere" and Randy Newman's "Burn Down the Cornfield," songs where the fog of danger hangs in the air like ectoplasm. Slide-guitar guests Sonny Landreth and Ben Harper bring rippling energy to the bad-luck story "Shootin' for the Moon" and the Harper-penned spiritual "Homeless Child." And the Blind Boys' zesty old-time harmonies turn Musselwhite's biographical "I Had Trouble" into a gospel-tent confession. But, if the voice of God appears anywhere, it's in Musselwhite's always lush and mesmerizing harmonica. --Ted Drozdowski« less
Harmonica giant Charlie Musselwhite has evolved from stone traditionalist to blues experimentalist in recent years, with excursions into Tejano, country, and jazz. Now, with the help of Blind Boys of Alabama producer John Chelew, the 60-year-old has made a masterpiece that balances his music's Delta soul with sonic innovation. Musselwhite's world-weary singing is perfect for the haunting textures that the scraped and bell-toned guitar strings bring to "Train to Nowhere" and Randy Newman's "Burn Down the Cornfield," songs where the fog of danger hangs in the air like ectoplasm. Slide-guitar guests Sonny Landreth and Ben Harper bring rippling energy to the bad-luck story "Shootin' for the Moon" and the Harper-penned spiritual "Homeless Child." And the Blind Boys' zesty old-time harmonies turn Musselwhite's biographical "I Had Trouble" into a gospel-tent confession. But, if the voice of God appears anywhere, it's in Musselwhite's always lush and mesmerizing harmonica. --Ted Drozdowski
chris meesey Food Czar | The Colony, TX United States | 10/13/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Listen to this album once. No, don't form any judgements yet, just listen. And then listen again. And again. See if this haunted, evocative world of midnight blues doesn't stick in your craw somewhere. That's the effect of veteran Chicago/Mississippi/Memphis harp player Charlie Musslewhite's latest effort, Sanctuary, will have on you. There are some first rate individual songs here, especially "Homeless Child," "My Road Lies in Darkness," and a fabulous cover of the Savoy Brown classic "Train to Nowhere," featuring the Blind Boys of Alabama, but mostly, the whole effort is greater than the sum of the parts. Musslewhite has the perfect voice for 3AM reflections with a glass of booze (or whatever), and Charlie Sexton's ringing guitar parts are first-class all the way. Great vocal tracks, but also incredible instrumentals, such as "Shadow People," "Alicia," and the harmonica-fest that is "Route 19". The album's total effect is at once troubling and eerily comforting, as Musslewhite clearly implies that the blues can be a sanctuary from problems, as well as a way to confront them. Purchase Sanctuary right away, and see if the shadow people don't pay you a visit some morning at 3AM."
Review of Charlie's Sanctuary CD
M. Andis | WV | 09/21/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Okay CD but not terrific. I recently saw Charlie Musselwhite live and thought he was great. The band was excellent, the music was tight, intense, and had a lot of punch. This CD did not have that punch. Much more laid back and some selections boring. The discrepancy betwen the live performance and the CD disappointed me."
>>>>> *** MINDBENDING BLUES POWER ***
Pat Walker | CA USA | 01/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"> It is almost impossible for any professional musician to put out a CD with 60% or more excellent songs >>> Charlie Musselwhite put this one out with what I would rate at 92% or 11 out of 12 >>> all were excellent but "1" did not fit...
> Charlie Musslewhite WROTE "3" Incredible Blues songs (#1: MY ROAD LIES IN DARKNESS - #2: SHADOW PEOPLE - #3: I HAD TROUBLE) on this album and they
can be Clearly Labeled as the: "CHARLIE MUSSLEWHITE BLUES BRAND" which will go down in Blue's History as "CLASSICS"...
> CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE has locked in his Very Clear and "UNIQUE BLUES
BRAND" and is same League as: Muddy Waters - John Lee Hooker - Stevie Ray Vaughn - Buddy Guy - Jr. Wells - BB King - Koko Taylor - Elvin Bishop >>>
and many more who Had That Key Ingredient to have THEIR UNIQUE SOUND which
is "THEIR UNIQUE BRAND" they were Born With...
> Every Blues Person has to have at Least "1" Charlie Musselwhite >>> Get This One >>> ***** SANCTUARY ***** ...
"
Listen to the Master
Bookman | Sarasota, Florida | 10/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you ever wanted a way to "jump down a manhole and light yourself a candle" this could be the way. Buy this Sanctuary cd and you shall hear the Buddah of Blues in all his gentle glory both above the ground and deep within. Warning. Once Charlie lights the candle and takes you for a ride on his midnight train, you'll never forget just how dark it really is out there in "The Neighborhood". Take his hand, listen to his music, and rebuild your faith with a deeper understanding."