Joe Louis Walker Silvertone Blues CD

Some critics have tagged this the best blues release of 1999; others weren't nearly as kind. It's a beauty-is-in-the-ear-of-the-beholder situation. Blues "purists" who lament the fact that very few artists today are playing down-home, traditional blues will very much enjoy and appreciate this return to the roots. Fans of more contemporary styles might quickly grow tired of the intense, piercing vocals and upper-register slide guitar work. There are ten originals and two covers (Robert Nighthawk's "Crying Won't Help You" and Sunnyland Slim's "It's You Baby"). Most of the tunes are sparse, gritty duets with either James Cotton on harp, Alvin Youngblood Hart on guitar/vocals, or Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne on piano. Walker sings and plays dobro on the only solo track "Talk to Me." If you long for a modern-day artist with the delivery of a Robert Johnson or a Howlin' Wolf and you like your blues pure and raw, Silvertone Blues is right up your alley. ~ Ann Wickstrom

Live Recording

Recorded at Sounds Unreel, Memphis, Tennessee from January 18-20, 1999; Bayview Studios, Richmond, California on January 26 & 27, 1999.

Personnel: Joe Louis Walker (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, dobro, harmonica, piano); Alvin Youngblood Hart (vocals, guitar); James Cotton (harmonica); Kenny Wayne (piano); Joe Thomas (acoustic bass); Chris Sandoval (drums).

Audio Mixer: Jay Newland.

Photographers: Steve Roberts; Billy Bowers.

Personnel: Joe Louis Walker (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, dobro, harmonica, piano); Alvin Youngblood Hart (guitar); James Cotton (harmonica); Kenny Wayne (piano); Joe Thomas (acoustic bass); Chris Sandoval (drums).

No Depression (1-2/00, p.89) - "...Walker moves comfortably from acoustic to electric blues, plays expressively in a variety of styles, writes well, and has a tremendous voice..."
Mojo (Publisher) (2/00, p.100) - "...Walker [has] one of the most readily recognisable styles in the blues....this album is fine Walker Black Label, full of flavor and subtlety....a record with an emphatically modern character - and some of his most gripping perfromances yet."