“Just Jimmy Reed” by Jimmy Reed - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1962Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s

TJR says

Jimmy’s pal, ace guitarist Eddie Taylor, is absent on this set and, if truth be told, he’s not missed much – there’s plenty enough talent and feeling with this line up: Jimmy (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Lefty Bates (guitar), Phil Upchurch (bass) and Al Duncan (drums). It turns into a bit of a family affair at times; his loyal wife, Mary, steps up to the mike for backing vocals on “Take It Slow” and Jimmy Reed Jr., by now a live regular with his Dad, joins in for a few tracks. “I’ll Change My Style” makes for an attention grabbing starter as Jimmy, quite literally, abandons his traditional roots-based guitar blues for a Rock n Roll Ballad drenched in phat organ drones. It’s a wow in many ways – and a great track, ultimately. It proves to be a one-off though, which seems a bit of a shame. The hottest action is to be found on the first side – “Too Much”, with its classic slow-drag rhythm and lazy vocal drawl, is vintage Jimmy. The second half of the record is not quite so strong, but that’s a relative complaint. The inclusion of the between-song studio trials and tribulations are a bit off-putting – had the banter been any good it might have been a different story. However, small gripes aside, this is yet another really good Jimmy Reed LP. He’s as cool as they come – and never even needs to move out of third gear to get there.

The Jukebox Rebel
23–Jul–2015

Tracklist
A1 [02:38] 7.7.png Jimmy Reed - I’ll Change My Style (David Parker, Manuel Villa) Rock n Roll Ballad
A2 [02:56] 6.4.png Jimmy Reed - Let’s Get Together (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A3 [02:34] 7.0.png Jimmy Reed - Good Lover (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A4 [03:02] 7.3.png Jimmy Reed - Take It Slow (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A5 [02:20] 8.9.png Jimmy Reed - Too Much (Eddie Boyd) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B1 [02:25] 6.5.png Jimmy Reed - In The Morning (T. Tucker, Al Smith) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B2 [02:55] 7.8.png Jimmy Reed - Oh John (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B3 [03:41] 7.4.png Jimmy Reed - Back Home At Noon (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B4 [04:16] 7.6.png Jimmy Reed - Kansas City Baby (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B5 [04:28] 6.5.png Jimmy Reed - You Can’t Hide (P. Woods) Blues / Rhythm n Blues

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