Junior Wells Live At Theresa's 1975 CD

From the label that brought you "Hoodoo Man Blues" (DMK #612), "Southside Blues Jam" (DMK #628) and "On Tap" (DMK #635) comes the only live Junior Wells album recorded at Theresa's Tavern where Junior held court during the 1970s. Similar to the highly su

Personnel: Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica); Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band (vocals, harmonica); Earnest Johnson (bass guitar); Vince Chapelle, Vince Chappelle, Levi Warren (drums); Byther Smith (vocals, guitar); Phil Guy, Sammy Lawhorn (guitar).
Liner Note Authors: Steve Tomashefsky; Steve Tomashefsky.
Recording information: Theresa's, Chicago, IL (01/10/1975/01/13/1975).
Photographer: Marc PoKempner.
The great Chicago harmonica player and singer Junior Wells performs some of his best-known songs in what had become by the mid-1970s his second home, the South Side blues club Theresa's. Scorching versions of "Little By Little," "Scratch My Back," and "Key to the Highway" are included, as well as his own "Messin' With the Kid."
Recorded at two separate gigs in January 1975 but not issued until 2006, this captures Junior Wells on-stage at Theresa's, one of the most esteemed Chicago blues clubs. It's a little rawer than most live albums; the sound is good, and Wells is in good form, but his band is a little rough (and, particularly on the tracks with guitarist Sammy Lawhorn, a little off-key). But the flaws really aren't too significant, as this is a pretty enjoyable set of electric Chicago blues in its unadulterated vintage form. Wells offers his trademark exuberant blues with touches of rock, soul, and funk, performing a few of his most popular tunes ("Messin' with the Kid," "Snatch It Back and Hold It") and a bunch of classic covers that are more identified with other performers (Slim Harpo's "Scratch My Back," Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway," St. Louis Jimmy Oden's "Goin' Down Slow," Little Walter's "Juke," Tampa Red's "Love Her with a Feeling," and "Help the Poor," the last popularized by B.B. King). It might have been good to hear more Wells' originals, but on the other hand it's cool to hear him bring his persona to that group of outside material, and a few five-minute-plus numbers allow him to stretch out more than he did in the studio. There's also some entertaining banter with the audience (and a version of "Happy Birthday") that adds to the intimate, earthy club ambience, though you do feel that a talent as major as Wells should have had slightly tighter backup musicians than the ones (including Buddy Guy's brother, Phil Guy, on guitar) playing on this CD. ~ Richie Unterberger

Rolling Stone (p.74) - "[B]oth vintage Wells and historical fun: a rare document of electric Chicago, up close and personal."
Rolling Stone (p.107) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[H]ere's the man in charge at his favorite South Side haunt....Wells is the king of a tiny realm that held forty customers. That time is gone. Here's a hint of how it felt."
Down Beat (p.62) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Relaxed and informal in its intensity and in its meeting of the blues and James Brown funk..."
Dirty Linen (p.76) - "[T]wo nights of Wells at his peak in 1975 are preserved in LIVE AT THERESA'S, one of the year's best historic blues recordings."
No Depression (p.104) - "[T]his has to be one of the most effectively you-are-there live albums ever recorded."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.95) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t vividly catches the ambience of two gigs at his favourite Chicago club."