Four Roosters Oil Man CD

Throughout the '60s and '70s, guitarist/vocalist Johnson performed with Frank Frost and Sam Carr in the Jelly Roll Kings, a gritty, soulful blues trio. Through a circuitous route, he finally recorded this, his first solo album, over the course of two days in 1986. Frost turns up on piano, but THE OIL MAN is clearly Johnson's show. He makes his Chicago roots clear with two Howlin' Wolf covers ("Killing Floor" and "How Many More Years") and the Muddy Waters-associated "Catfish Blues," but even at this early date, the country influences that would later become more prevalent are heard (Merle Travis's "Steel Guitar Rag"). Though his is a raw, hardcore electric blues sound, Johnson isn't afraid to let his outside interests show. Walter Roy's bass playing, which would define the subsequent sound of Johnson's rhythm section even when Roy wasn't in it, owes more to the punchy tone of Jack Bruce than to Willie Dixon. Throughout THE OIL MAN, Johnson's cutting, uncomplicated guitar work and emotive vocals maintain an impressive viscerality.

"Johnson's fat, reverb-drenched guitar tone and convincing vocals make for a potent combination on such classics as Catfish and How Many More Years, and even help to compensate for such obviously derivative songs as I'm Gonna Give Up Disco (a thinly disguised rewrite of Jr. Parker's Mystery Train). Also worth hearing are Johnson's delightfully distinctive treatments of Steel Guitar Rag, and oddly enough, Tom Dooley. " -The Washington Post"The band latches onto some irresistable grooves that are custom made for dancing (roll up the rugs) and Johnson's guitar has a big, fat sound that makes you want to swing and sweat. Catfish, with its subtle references to Jimi Hendrix and John Lee Hooker,... ought to attract those fans of Stevie Ray Vaughn and George Thorogood if they can handle a lot more meat and a lot less sizzle." - Jazz Times

Recorded at Acme Recording, Chicago, Illinois on June 7 & 8, 1986. Includes liner notes by Michael Robert Frank.

Personnel: Big Jack Johnson (vocals, guitar); Frank Frost (piano).

Audio Remixer: Paul Smith .

Liner Note Author: Michael Robert Frank.

Recording information: ACME Recording, Chicago, IL (06/07/1986/06/08/1986).

Photographers: Patty Johnson; Alan Howell.

Unknown Contributor Role: Tom Doerr.

Arranger: Big Jack Johnson.

Personnel: Big Jack Johnson (vocals, guitar); Frank Frost (piano); Walter Roy (bass); Ernest Roy (drums).

Producers: Michael Robert Frank/Jack Johnson.

Rolling Stone (4/7/94, p.73) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Epic blues... guitar Valhalla...Johnson is Mississippi Delta authentic...Johnson's authority thunders like The Book of Job. In fact, everything on THE OIL MAN burns...."