Various Artists: Mean Street

The third release in the Jukin' With The Blues series, Mean Street finds the music in an unsurprisingly meaner mood than the two releases that flank this one (Belly Full Of Blues and Saturday Night In Shankletown, which are reviewed elsewhere) and I have to say that of the three this is the one with the widest appeal to those not already steeped in the Blues. The rocked up approach across songs like Little Richard's excellent live rendition of "Hound Dog", or the down and dirty "V8 Ford Blues" courtesy of James Cotton exude the infectious vibe that so invigorated the Rock and Metal acts which used this style as a blueprint for their altogether loftier ambitions a few decades down the line. A quick listen to Etta James more Soulful delivery of "It Brings A Tear" also shows the power and devotion that this style of music could also elicit, with the audience she performs in front of being whipped into a frenzy by the sparse arrangements and scarily powerful vocals - which have lost none of their impact in the passing years. The strum and stomp of Jimmy Reed's "I Goin' Upside You Head" brings a joyous simplicity to a more refined release and with John Lee Hooker also offering up a gloriously shuffling delight in the shape of "Rock With Me", there really is something for any Blues inspired listener to enjoy here.

Unfortunately as with the other releases I've reviewed in this series, the simple if well put together booklet doesn't do the music it houses justice, with a lack of real facts on the artists and especially the music on this release, being a major oversight. However a few clumsy fade-outs aside, the sound, which on some of these songs has been lovingly restored, is impressive and reassuringly even across all these different songs from different sources, something that is a feature across all of these MVD/Catbone UnReleased discs.

All three CDs so far to come out from this series are interesting insights into an often under rated genre, although I do think that Mean Street is probably the strongest starting point for those looking for an entry into this genre.

Track Listing
1. Before I Commit A Crime - HOWLIN' WOLF
2. Dust My Broom - ELMORE JAMES
3. Money Honey - LITTLE RICHARD
4. Take Out Some Insurance - JIMMY REED
5. V8 Ford Blues - JAMES COTTON
6. Killin' Floor - HOWLIN' WOLF
7. Deacon Stomp - BARRY DARNELL
8. I Need You So Bad - JAMES COTTON
9. Don't Lie To Me - MIKE BLOOMFIELD
10. Standin' Around Crying - MUDDY WATERS
11. Hound Dog - LITTLE RICHARD
12. Dealin' With The Devil - JAMES COTTON
13. I Goin' Upside You Head - JIMMY REED
14. Love Taker - PETER FRAMPTON / NANETTE WORKMAN
15. It Brings A Tear - ETTA JAMES
16. Southside Boogie - JAMES COTTON
17. Rock With Me - JOHN LEE HOOKER

Added: November 28th 2011
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Belly Full Of Blues MySpace
Hits: 1670
Language: english

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