This album is about as good as it gets. Gate did a few original sides for Alligator, but this album is actually a reissue of sorts.As many of you may or may not know, Brown spent alot of time in Europe during the 60's and 70's. Like so many of his compatriates, he recorded for the great french label Black and Blue. Infact, his output was quite high recording 5 albums, including the classic Louis Jordan tribute (available at the Crypt). Alligator decided to select the best of all these albums and package it into one LP. Good idea? Hell yeah!!
Gatemouth is in top form here and his bandmates are no less. Superb rhythm and shredding solos. Intuitive note selection and chord choices. All hallmarks of Brown's style. Vocally he is soulful with great wit and charm. The tracklist was well chosen. We get the groovy feel of an organ trio, right on up to the brassy weight of an octet. The band swing and groove hard through all of it. Gatemouth is comfortable with a blues as much as he is with swingin. He combines many different styles and feels which makes for incredible fun with non stop, interesting delivery.
Alligator AL4745
1985
Recorded Mar/July/Aug 1973
Barclay Studio, Paris, France and
Condorcet Studio, Toulouse, FranceProduced by and licenced from Disque Black and Blue
Clarence Gatemouth Brown - Vocals, Guitar
Milt Buckner, Stan Hunter - Organ
Micheal Silva, Paul Gunther, Chris Columbo - Drums
Jay McShann - Piano
Roland Lobligeois - Bass
Xavier Chambon - Trumpet
Michael Attenoux, Hal Singer, Arnett Cobb - Tenor Sax
Al Grey, Claude Gousset - Trombone
A1 She Winked Her Eye
A2 Slow Down
A3 Just Lippin
A4 My Time Is Expensive
A5 Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
B1 Pressure Cooker
B2 Ain't That Just Like A Woman
B3 Deep, Deep water
B4 Cold Strings
