Otis shines through
Dr.D.Treharne | Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom | 05/06/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This looks like a fairly cynical ploy. Let's get a blues star who's had some sizeable hits on a small label, take him to Muscle Shoals with the best session musicians we can find, and...oh yeah get him to record some of our songs. Mike Bloomfield and Nick Gravenites gave him some fairly dire songs to record, but were unable to prevent Otis Rush shining through, and in places making some old chestnuts live again.The undoubted top tracks are "It takes time" (self written by the man) a great version of B.B.King's "Gamblers blues" and a belting version of Chuck Willis' "Feel so bad".You'd best programme out Tracks 2 & 7,they weren't good to start with and haven't lasted well. Two other points. Firstly the band when they get into their stride really swing, and Jerry Jemmott on bass holds it altogether terrifically well. Secondly the stereo separation is the kind of weird deal that recording engineers would never even attempt today.A triumph in spite of the material"
Of the plantation
Donald E. Lewis | Colorado | 06/14/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"One of my first blues records and my first Otis Rush record when I was a kid. I thought it was an awesome recording but have since matured with my blues, especially when I got more of Otis's recordings and found the real Otis. This is so different than any other of his recordings it is hard to reconcile. The production should have been better considering the work that went into this recording but sadly it suffers. The songs are great some a little dire, unlike one reviewer who did'nt like "My Old Lady", I beg to differ, it was a regular in my set list of songs we played and Jerold Jemmot was inspiring and was fun to play. Otis did stuff like Rainy Night in Georgia so he could step out. Not a good starting place but if you are a blues and Otis fan you should have this in your collection dispite its flaws because that guitar always overcomes."