Search - Little Walter :: Hate to See You Go

Give him his props

jesse sterling harrison | south hadley, ma | 08/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Little Walter Jacobs doesn't seem to get the respect he deserves. Let's fix that right now: it says here that "Hate to See You Go" is one of the top five blues studio recordings...ever! First off, there's the huge, steely sound of Little Walter's harmonica, amplified (he was the first in Chicago to do so) and drenched in lonely reverb. Then comes the biting lead/rhythm guitar of Walter's pal Muddy Waters, along with primitive, powerful drumming. This is a fine set of songs, very diverse by blues standards, mostly written by Jacobs or Willie Dixon. But best of all is Walter's vocal approach: raw, primal, but controlled, full of personality. He emotes the pain of a Robert Johnson or Billie Holiday, and the aggression and power of Muddy. This is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in Chicago Blues."