Search - John Hammond :: Found True Love

Old school blues.

09/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one excellent CD. For those naysayers who think the old school of folk blues has gone by the wayside, then this is one they need to listen to.Great acoustic stylings with Hammond's already bluesy vocals are what set this album apart from not only what Hammond himself has previously done, but also from what most latter days blues musicians are in to.From the first track, "Found Love," one can envision themself in a southern roadhouse, listening to a more traditional blues artist. On this album, Hammond has surrounded himself with some marvelous blues craftsmen as well, and in really shows in the overall production.There is a certain magic in the two songs where he does duets with the very vocally alluring Soozy Tyrell. These tracks, "Warm it up to Me," and "You've Had Too Much," are true gems in an age where music seems to be taking a backseat to the business of selling music.And even though Hammond is a do it all bluesman, guitarist, harpist, and singer, he is not afraid to share the spotlight with such notables as Charlie Musselwhite. This is one heck of a blues album. Thanks to Hammond for having the skills to make it, and to Pointblank records for having the nerve to release it.What a sweet fresh breath of air! If you are really into the blues, then this is the album for you! In the tradition of Robert Johnson, Bill Broonzy, Blind Lemon Jefferson...etc. Great!"

One of Hammond's Best

tgfabthunderbird | York, PA United States | 11/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd first heard Hammond's cover of Jimmy Reed's "Found True Love" at a radio station I worked for in Mass. back around the time this CD came out. It was slower, very different, with some fine guitar work and Hammond's trademark singing. Really dug it, and in fact this was pretty much my first Hammond CD in my collection.



I'd heard Hammond on a record I once had, "Blues Explosion," a Montreaux collection featuring him doing a Chuck Berry tune. Excellent stuff, and I eventually got hold of this.



Hammond's guitar and harp work are exceptional across this whole CD, with a lot of country blues tunes. Soozie Tyrell duets with Hammond on "Warm It Up To Me" and "You've Had Too Much," the latter I liked best. The cover of "Howlin' For My Baby" was great, shades of the Wolf himself there.



All in all, I just keep on listening to this one. Hammond's dedicated his life to the blues, interpreting great songs as well as obscure ones, though I do wish he had more confidence in his own stuff. Oh, well could happen and we do have this."

Classic white blues

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 10/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Hammond has sometimes been called "the white Robert Johnson", but he sings the classic blues in a style all his own, even though it has the heart and soul of another era, a southern funky low down sound, far from John's birthplace in New York City some 62 years ago.

This CD from 1995 is fabulous, with terrific musicianship throughout; John can hold his own solo, with his marvelous guitar and harmonica playing, but he is joined by some superb fellow blues players for this recording, with Duke Robillard on guitar, Marty Ballou on bass, and Jeffrey McAllister on drums. Others that join on some of the selections are Mr. B on piano for "Fore Day Rider Blues" and 4 other tracks, Charlie Musselwhite on harp for "Hello Stranger" and "Someday Baby Blues", and the delightful vocals of Soozie Tyrell on "Warm it Up to Me" and "You Had Too Much".



Favorites include "My Mind is Ramblin'" with it's stong rhythm and John's smoky gritty voice wailing into a falsetto, "The First Time I met the Blues" is a brilliant rendition from all, and "Someday Baby Blues", a duo with John and Charlie Musselwhite has a simplicity and spirit of days gone by.



Though John was born to an exclusive heritage as the son of Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond Sr. (who produced the early Bob Dylan), John Jr. struck out on his own in the unlikely career as a bluesman, not only bringing some forgotten songs back to life, but finding an audience for them who were not familiar with the blues; I've been a John Hammond fan since the early 60's, when he was just becoming part of the coffeehouse scene, performing his raw and fresh take on a musical genre that is a part of American history.

If you like the blues, you can't miss with this CD. The sound is excellent, with a clear, "up close" sound and total playing time is 42'41.

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