Magic+slim

Magic Slim & the Teardrops proudly uphold the tradition of what a Chicago blues band should sound like. Their emphasis on ensemble playing and a humongous repertoire that allegedly ranges upwards of a few hundred songs give the towering guitarist's live performances an endearing off-the-cuff quality…

As his last recording, Magic Slim gives us a live performance from the Wolf label in Europe. There are some fine tracks on this cd and as a parting momento from a master, this is a fine cd all around….

From three separate sessions held in Chicago in 1986, 1987, and 1989, this captures Slim and the Teardrops at the top of their game. The bulk of this disc emanates from a 1986 session held at the radio station WRDE, catching the combo raw and wild on nice readings of "Mama Talk to Your Daughter," "Bad Avenue," "Gambler," and "Ain't That Nice." These tracks are simply loaded with stinging guitar from Slim and John Primer and it's Primer contributing the lead vocals on "Think" and "She Moves Me." A hot session that's pretty representative of their down-home sound.

Another solid Slim set with an additional emphasis on the considerable contributions of second guitarist John Primer, who handles vocals on three cuts (including covers of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" and Eugene Church's "Pretty Girls Everywhere"). This was a particularly potent edition of Teardrops, pounding through Slim's own title cut and "Please Don't Waste My Time" and Albert King's shuffling "Cold Women with Warm Hearts" with barroom bravado.

Whole Lotta Blues: The Songs of Led Zeppelin gathers blues artists young and old to either a) perform the original versions of classic blues songs later adapted to fit the Led Zeppelin repertoire, or b) cover Zep originals in traditional blues style…