Ranger Rick Zoobooks Snakes

L.A. roots-rocker Olson and British blues-rock guitarist Taylor made a powerful pair. This live album, recorded at the Roxy in Los Angeles in 1990, was their debut, waxed with a hand-picked band that had rehearsed for a week and played only one warm-up gig. It's a sign of the players' quality that the group sounds like a well-oiled road unit, with Olson's powerful, earthy vocals backed by a solid rhythm section of Rick Hemmert on drums and Jesse Sublett on bass, and sparked throughout by Taylor's brilliant electric guitar. Released in 1991 under this title in the U.S. and as "Live" in Europe, this two-CD reissue adds a Taylor-sung cover of Fred McDowell's "You Gotta Move," previously released in Japan, and an entire second disc of studio tracks picked from Olson's subsequent collaborations with Taylor.

Most of you will recognize Rick Estrin’s name from his work with Little Charlie & The Nightcats. While Rick fronted that jump-blues styled band for close to 30 years, and continues to front and also lead the band now that Little Charlie has bowed out, this CD is a showcase for old-school electric blues, and Rick’s harp skills, rather than the jump blues the Nightcats have been know for.