Search - Shines, Johnny :: Mr. Cover Shaker

A great record, essential for any delta blues lover.

06/12/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the great (and most bizarre) recordings of delta blues. Johnny Shines performs alone with his acoustic guitar, and on electric with the David Bromberg Band. A couple of the cuts are absolutely sublime: Shines' version of Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on my Trail", called here "Two Steps to Hell", and "The Face in the Courthouse" are particularly great, and truly bizarre for their weird narrative structures. But the whole record is very fine stuff, well-recorded and well-performed. By the way, if anybody reading this knows any details of Shines' stay in Windsor Ontario with Robert Johnson in 1936 or 37, I beg you to get in touch with me. Thanks."

Not His Best, But Extremely Diverse

D. B Pepper | Plainview, NY United States | 08/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not my favorite Shines record, but it's definitely diverse.

Listening to "The Face in the Courthouse" and then the electric rendition of "Blood Ran Like Wine" reveals Johnny's ability to play totally different types of music. One song is a pre-Blues story song and the other is a modern Blues song, but both have equal feeling and display Johnny's mastery of his instrument, voice, and lyrics. "May I Apologize" is great and "The Devil's Daughter" is impeccable."