Memphis
Slim – Rockin’ The House: The Best Of The R&B Years
(Fantastic Voyage)
You don’t see much blues being played on piano these
days. For the gigging bluesman, the guitar or harmonica is altogether more
convenient. Back in the day when these songs were recorded, between 1946 and
1961, Memphis Slim was just one of many pianists playing the blues, from
Pinetop Perkins and Fats Domino, to the jazzier, New Orleans style of Professor
Longhair. It was a popular sound, and spawned plenty of hit records.
Memphis Slim was responsible for more than his share
and there are seven R&B chart hits included amongst the 50 tracks on this
excellent two-disc collection. Probably the best known is “Messin’ Round”,
though I’m sure most blues fans will recognize “Nobody Loves Me”, later
re-titled “Everyday I Have The Blues”, together with quite a few others.
There’s a real ebullience to much of Slim’s material from this period,
especially the early cuts and the floor-shaking title track is certainly worthy
of special mention.
Newcomers will find much here to get excited about,
and long time fans will be equally thrilled to get so much first rate material
in a single package. Well-done Fantastic Voyage.
Rob F.
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