As I promised in our discussion of Soul Man Live in Japan, I am posting two more live sets here for Otis Clay freaks like me who can't get enough. The first disc, Live!, is from the first professionally recorded concert in Japan, which dates from 1978, as opposed to the 1983 concert already posted by KC. While this recording may not reach the heights of the extraordinary 1983 set, it is still quite worthwhile for Otis Clay fans. It contains a number of songs recorded for Hi Records that he did not keep in his repetoire in subsequent years. This rip is from a CD. As I understand, the 2-disc LP contains a few extra songs not included here. If anybody has access to those songs, and could post them here, it would be much appreciated.
The second concert comes from the Sunflower Blues Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, vintage 1991. It is a private recording in low fi that is nevertheless near and dear to my heart. It is the only recording I know that features Otis with his fantastic band of the time: Chicago Fire. I had the opportunity to hear Otis live a number of times in the late 80s and early 90s with Chicago Fire. The best of them were some of the most memorable concerts of my life. Chicago Fire was something like the perfect foil for the artistry of Otis Clay. They gave him all the room he needed for a secular sermon that always left you with the feeling that your soul had been cleansed and spirt rejuvinated.
The last time that I saw Otis Clay with Chicago Fire was at Slim's in San Francisco around the time of this concert. I went Friday night, and had to come back Saturday as well. I was extremely happy to hear Otis' announcement that they had just signed a recording deal with Rounder Records. Finally, I thought, this incredible sound would be caught for the ages.
Fate would have it that, for one reason or another, Otis Clay and Chicago Fire went their separate ways before Otis went to the studios for Rounder. To their credit, Rounder assembled crack bands for Otis' two discs for that label. But it didn't really work. The bands didn't know how to give Otis the flexibility that he needed to work his magic. As a result, Otis ended up in a sort of musical straightjacket, trying hard to complement what the band was doing, as opposed to the other way around. What could have been classic albums in the Otis Clay discography with Chicago Fire turned out to be among his weakest.
At any rate, if you can tolerate the lo fi sound, here is Otis in all his glory with Chicago Fire in 1991.
By the way, Otis' new album, Truth Is, is his best release in a while. Support the Soul Man and buy it!
