Feed Christa Wells

The follow up to Hoodoo Man Blues (DMK 612), this classic Chicago blues album is now re-issued in an expanded digipak Deluxe Edition containing unissued performances and a 16-page booklet with many never-before-seen photos. The Godfather of Blues, Junior Wells is accompanied by Buddy Guy and Louis Myers, guitar; Otis Spann, piano; Earnest Johnson, bass; Fred below, drums. Recorded December 30, 1969 and January 8, 1970, the five extra performances include Rock Me Baby, an alternate take of I Could Have Had Religion, Junior's In Charge, an eight-minute improvisational studio jam with lots of Otis Spann, and more, 73 minutes. With new notes by producer Bob Koester. A must for blues lovers.

The historical details surrounding the recording session that became Buddy & the Juniors are almost as entertaining – and oddly satisfying – as the music itself. Released on Blue Thumb in 1970 on multi-colored wax, this session, were it not for a very real economic necessity due to Buddy Guy's feud with Vanguard Records, would never have happened. According to producer Michael Cuscuna's liner notes on the CD reissue, Vanguard wouldn't pick up the tab for Guy to fly to New York to mix an album he'd cut with Junior Mance and Gary Bartz – also produced by Cuscuna. Being an ever-enterprising genius, Cuscuna pitched the idea for a recording between Guy, Mance, and Junior Wells to Blue Thumb label boss Bob Krasnow; he jumped.

Named as one of the world’s finest choirs by Gramophone, Wells Cathedral Choir and their director Matthew Owens make their Resonus Classics debut with a programme of carols typically performed during the Christmas season in Wells – A Wells Christmas. With an irresistible array of popular carols and more recent offerings this scintillating and varied programme is vividly realised by the combined boy and girl choristers and Vicars Choral that continue the 1100-year-old tradition of music in Wells Cathedral. Included in this compelling programme are works by David Willcocks, Andrew Carter, John Rutter, and Kenneth Leighton, Thomas Hewitt Jones. Also included are world premieres by Bob Chilcott, Jefferson McConnaughey & Matthew Owens.

Strutting across the stage, cocksure like the blues' answer to James Brown, Junior Wells owned one of the most dynamic voices in Chicago blues. He was as confident belting brassy soul as he was doing lowdown blues, his wide-toned amplified harmonica excursions always compelling. Before joining forces with Buddy Guy, Junior teamed up with light-fingered guitar master Earl Hooker at Mel London's Chief and Profile Records. It was a match made in blues heaven.

This reissue of a live recording taken in Huntington Beach, California, and originally released in 1969, showcases harpster and singer Junior Wells's brash, intense Chicago style. The material is familiar–"Fever," "My Babe," "I'm Ready," and "Please, Please, Please," among others–but it's none the worse for that. Wells puts his own stamp on each performance with his growling voice and rich, aggressive harmonica, especially on "So Tired (I Could Cry)" and the aforementioned "My Babe." Wells and company rock out with "Don't Start Me Talking" and "How Many More Years," and lay back for "Elevate Me Mama." Even the CD reissue isn't completely clean;