By Shannon

This disc was originally released by Antone’s Records in 1994 and has been out of print for some time. It has been re-released by popular demand. I have never heard anything by this cat before but I loved it the first time I listened to it. To be honest, it’s the first hard core blues album I have heard in a while. Six of the fifteen tracks are Johnny’s originals. There is a definite Robert Johnson influence and there is also a song by Hank Ballard, who is one of my all-time favs! Here is a track listing:

1. Kind Hearted Woman - classic Robert Johnson sound

2. House Cleaning Blues - great blues guitar sound w/fun lyrics

3. My Rice Ain’t Got No Gravy - fast tempo and upbeat

4. Prince Charming - slow blues

5. Blue and Lonesome - great Chicago Blues with a Robert Junior Lockwood style

6. Mandolin Boogie - fast ragtime boogie

7. John the Revelator - another fantastic tune that everyone should know (Son House)

8. Sleeping with The Devil - awesome tune and diggin’ the harp (Johnny Young)

9. Let’s Go to Big Houston - country blues w/ a hoedown feel! (Link Davis, Jr.)

10. Tomorrow Night - slow song w/ nice vocals (Coslow and Grosz)

11. Johnny’s Deathray Boogie/Thrill On The Hill - fast boogie instrumental (Hank Ballard)
Bonus Tracks

12. Mandolin Moan - slow, sad blues

13. Stones In My Pathway - Robert Johnson traditional blues

14. Thinkin’ Bout Junior - great guitar instrumental; nice bluesy sounds

15. Phonograph Blues - more slow Robert Johnson but I totally dig it!

Learn more about Johnny at www.hilltopcafe.com/johnny

Blues-o-meter rating 5 of 5!!!!!