Search - Clarence Gatemouth Brown :: Okie Dokie Stomp

Here's one for you: How many ways can you slice and dice a bluesman's catalog? Rounder already has Texas Swing, a generous 17-song (out of 20) sampling of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's two early-1980s gems Alright Again! and One More Mile--and both original albums are still available. Now they've shaved the running time (and the price accordingly) to give listeners yet another, more-affordable option. The real attraction here, however, is the addition of three smoking live cuts: two from 1985's Real Life (also available in its entirety) and one 10-minute romp through "The Drifter," recorded in 1982 and issued on the obscure 1992 compilation Strike a Deep Chord: Blues Guitar for the Homeless. Truth is, you can't really go wrong with any of these options, for Brown's assured vocals and razor-sharp guitar (and occasional fiddle or harp) always impress, whether on slow and gritty 12-bars, horn-fueled jump, or fleet-fingered swing. --Marc Greilsamer