features in: Album Chart of 1973 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Recorded in August ’73, the final album from the urban blues veteran was in the shops by November. Now at 63-year-old, the big-feller’s taking it slightly easier, having suffered a couple of heart-attacks in the last few years. His trusty group leader, Eddie Shaw, pens 5 of these, the Wolf delivers 2. It’s his own “Moving” which opens the set, and he lets us know where his head’s at: “I’m still a backdoor man, but I ain't gonna tote my forty-four, no more”. It’s a compromise of sorts. He fancies headin’ back home in his retirement: “My name reign in Mississippi, An' Alabama an' Georgia, too, I'm goin' back down South, Where the woman sure know what to do”. Now that’s twice he’s been flirtin’ with the ladies in the first 3 minutes. What will Mrs Burnett have to say? Ha-ha – he’s playing his bad-boy role as well as ever. Heralding the album’s release, “Coon On The Moon” and “The Back Door Wolf” were issued as a 45 in September – both cuts are highlights in a consistently decent set. The former bites hard: “You know they call us ‘coon’, say we didn't have no sense, You gon’ wake up one mornin', an the ol’ 'coon’ gon’ be your president”. They can see a change is gonna come – but it ain’t happening quick enough. Even better is “Speak Now Woman” – I’m just a sucker for that that nagging Jimmy Reed slow-drag, although the prominent harpsichord, a recurring feature on this LP, seems a bit weird and takes a bit of getting over. Still, the big guy over-powers and retires with his credibility in A1 condition. Oh, and Wolf’s crew were spot on about that future president.
The Jukebox Rebel
12–Mar–2016
Tracklist |
A1 | [02:45] Howlin’ Wolf - Moving (Chester Burnett) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
A2 | [03:45] Howlin’ Wolf - Coon On The Moon (Eddie Shaw) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
A3 | [04:59] Howlin’ Wolf - Speak Now Woman (James Oden) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
A4 | [03:33] Howlin’ Wolf - Trying To Forget You (Eddie Shaw) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
A5 | [02:52] Howlin’ Wolf - Stop Using Me (Chester Burnett) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
B1 | [02:31] Howlin’ Wolf - Leave Here Walking (Eddie Shaw) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
B2 | [04:03] Howlin’ Wolf - The Back Door Wolf (Eddie Shaw, Ralph Bass) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
B3 | [04:50] Howlin’ Wolf - You Turn Slick On Me (Emery Williams Jr.) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
B4 | [03:10] Howlin’ Wolf - Watergate Blues (Eddie Shaw) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
B5 | [02:31] Howlin’ Wolf - Can’t Stay Here (Andrew McMahon) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |