Search - Lou Rawls :: Black & Blue / Tobacco Road

Too long a wait...

B. J. Lane | Levittown, PA United States | 08/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Adding this CD reissue of "Black and Blue" and "Tobacco Road" from 1963-64 was a no-brainer, for this was the first time I'd had a chance to hear two of the greatest albums Lou Rawls has ever recorded.



It was a treat to hear Lou do justice to some of the greatest jazz and blues classics ever written, brilliantly arranged by Onzy Matthews and played by a smokin' hot big band made up of A-list musician talent. The liner notes were very informative and gave insight of the creation of each album.



Judging by the fantastic arranging and conducting on these two albums, I cannot believe that Mr. Matthews' career did not take the more successful turn of other arrangers of that period. As for Lou, thank God that his early work is finally in circulation for all to enjoy...why wait until after his death for this to happen?



"

Long Awaited Black & Blue and Tobacco Road

Robert A. Ramsdell | Madison, WI USA | 07/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's very hard for me to be objective about these two recordings by Lou Rawls and Onzy Matthews. I wore out my vinyl long, long ago and have been waiting for the CD issue of these records for 20 years. FINALLY! Great and creative big band writing by Onzy Matthews....The arrangements never get in Lou's way and such mature singing for a young guy. Lou's in great voice, the selection of material is first rate and the writing and playing top notch. Enough with the cliches........buy it..at two for the price of one!"

The voice shines through

Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 05/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD comprises of two albums recorded in 1962 & 1963, with two tracks, numbers 7 & 24 as bonus tracks. Arrangements on both albums were by Onzy Matthews, with a whole slew of hand picked session players to perform them.On both sets Lou Rawls displays imperious styling and phrasing, and his voice is distinctive and given lots of space in the arrangements. There is, however a distinct contrast between the choice of material on the two albums. The "Black and Blue" set contains a much better chosen range of songs, and the arrangements more in empathy with Rawls style. Stand out tracks are a version of "Every day I have the Blues", Count Basie's "Going to Chicago Blues" and an outstanding reading of Oscar Brown Junior's "World of Trouble". The bonus track would not have been out of place in the original programming. The "Tobacco Road" set starts with an excellent version of the title track, but the rest of the set is good without ever being outstanding, except for "Blues for a four string guitar" which is really quite weak. Throughout, Rawls does his best to impart something new to all of them, though he's not helped in places by the arrangements, where on the second album the guitar sound is weak. It's also difficult not to compare the version of "Georgia on my mind" with what Ray Charles was doing with it at about the same time in another place! The remastering is excellent throughout, mixed as it was from 3 track tapes. I welcome the re-release of these long deleted albums, but on reflection despite Rawls' valiant efforts elsewhere the "Black and Blue" set is the highlight of this CD."