Guitar Junior rocks the joint
Sam Mosley | Toronto, Ontario | 05/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson came into his own with this smokin' disc after making a few good but not amazing albums. This CD cooks from the first to last song, most of which were originals penned by Johnson. He is one of the best keeper's of the West Side or Magic Sam style of Chicago blues, preferring more soulful blues as well as using a saxophone instead of a harmonica in the backup band. There is also a lot of variety here, mixing straight shuffles ("Can't Get Along With You"), slow blues ("I'm From Mississippi", "Graveyard Dogs") funk ("I Want to Groove with You") and even country ("Texas Cowboy).
This is a smokin' disc from the first on, and I suggest that if you like Chicago blues but haven't heard Luther Johnson than get this CD right away."
Good but not terribly distinct
Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 08/01/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a solid, well-wrought set of contemporary electric blues by Muddy Waters' former guitar player.
Backed by a fine band (drums, bass, piano/organ, saxophone), Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson goes through a 47-minute set of mostly self-penned material with no bad songs but no great highlights either, except perhaps the swinging, piano-driven closer "I'm Leaving Chicago". A nice listen, but not particularly memorable."