Koko Mojo

Accurately dubbed "the Queen of Chicago blues" (and sometimes just the blues in general), Koko Taylor helped keep the tradition of big-voiced, brassy female blues belters alive, recasting the spirits of early legends like Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Mama Thornton, and Memphis Minnie for the modern age. Taylor's rough, raw vocals were perfect for the swaggering new electrified era of the blues, and her massive hit "Wang Dang Doodle" served notice that male dominance in the blues wasn't as exclusive as it seemed. After a productive initial stint on Chess, Taylor spent several decades on the prominent contemporary blues label Alligator, going on to win more W.C. Handy Awards than any other female performer in history, and establishing herself as far and away the greatest female blues singer of her time. Collection includes: Koko Taylor (1969); South Side Lady (1973); I Got What It Takes (1975); The Earthshaker (1978); From The Heart Of A Woman (1981); Queen of the Blues (1985); Jump For Joy (1990).

You heard about the Koko-Mojo series (30 volumes), the Southern Bred series (20 volumes) and Boss Black Rockers (10 volumes). The Mojo Man compiled a brandnew series with dancefloor killers only! 24 dark black Blues and Rhythm and Blues songs, handpicked by the man himself!

With this album we are once again in the 'Koko-Mojo Original' series. The compiler is still Little Victor aka 'The Mojo Man' and again he selected 28 tracks.

This is the bomb! It goes off with spectacular flair. From back at a time when it was the sax (not the guitar) that was the primary instrument in rock’n’roll, the various artists on This Is The Night: Lessons In Wild Saxophonology (Koko Mojo) run the gamut from Rosco Gordon’s “Tummer Tee,” Jimmy Tolliver’s “Hoochie Kootchie Koo” and Kansas City Jimmy’s “Cheating Woman” to Screaming Joe Neal’s “She’s My Baby,” Johnny Wright’s “Look At That Chick” and Otis Riley’s “Little Miss Bibbitty Bobbitty Boom” (highlights all). But wait, there’s more. From “Hot Tamales” by Noble Watts, “Way Out” by The Vibrators and “I’m Gonna Whale On You” by the politically incorrect Little Arthur Mathews to “Huchia Cuthia Lovin’ Man” by King Alex & The Untouchables,” these unbelievably great jump-blues and rockin’ rhythm rides will have you heaving and twitching. Scouring the depths of ‘50s and ‘60s sides (with some ‘40s thrown in too), it never fails to amaze how many poppin’ pulsating slabs of wax were made by little-known artists from long-ago and far-away. Well, here they are!

Stamping their identity all over this compilation album are the female singers of 50s and early 60s generations trying to make a name for themselves in a largely male dominated industry. What the listener will experience with ‘Cat Scratchin’ is a variety of songs, with a variety of styles that show flashes of sophistication and songs borne out of more primitive foundations. There’s plenty of attitude as well as honesty, not to mention a mental toughness as well as vulnerability that serves up a perfect balance of emotions. Most tracks give the suggestion of late 50s and early 60s periods in history with the rhythm and blues ranging from late-night torchbearers such as the excellent ‘Please Give Me A Match’ performed by Rebecca Williams, to the tub-thumping, boisterous racket that is ‘Holy Mack’reel’ from equally animated vocals of Prentice Moreland.

CDs from this collection began to appear in the sale of one after the other in early 1998. The collection was designed primarily for fans of blues and those wishing to join him in France, Canada and other French-speaking countries, as its literary part was originally made in French and it seems and has not been translated into other languages.

Essential Blues is an attempt to trace the evolution of the music from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago and other modern, urban cities. It does a fairly good job in providing a brief history, but the main strength of the collection simply comes from the music. Featuring cuts from Lightnin' Hopkins, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Slim Harpo, Junior Parker, Elmore James, Albert Collins, and many, many others, it's a quick and effective way to sample a variety of different blues styles. For neophytes, Essential Blues does offer a splendid introduction to the genre.