Search - Lee Allen :: Walkin With Mr Lee

Lee Allen-Walkin'With Mr. Lee

Stuart Jefferson | San Diego,Ca | 11/14/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One disc,28 minutes approximately,good clean sound. This is a curious album. Having heard Allen on many tracks recorded in the fifties,I knew of his talent on the tenor sax,but had never heard this album. Yes,it's short,but it has a curious effect on the listener. It's a bit like going back in time when juke boxes were where you heard the latest "sounds". Allen's group consisted of himself with organ,piano,guitarists-banjo(!) player,plus bass and drums. Most listeners will know of Allen because he played on a lot of Little Richards' hits,plus many more out of the New Orleans area. This music is best described as "jump blues"-small groups with the above instrumentation. The only real "hit" record here is WALKIN' WITH MR.LEE,a catchy number that probably sounded great either on the car radio or on a juke box. It's interesting that this hit record was thought up on the spur of the moment in the studio. All the tracks are similar, so if you like one you will like them all. While this is something that won't grab you by the throat,it does sneak up on you and puts a smile on your face. As I said-curiously enjoyable."