Delmark artist: Willie Buck - Cell Phone Man- New Release Reviews

I just received the newest release, Cell Phone Man, by Willie Buck. This release sounds really fresh but it fits like an old glove. This new release is a mixture of new tracks written by Buck and some old classics written by Muddy Waters among others. The release opens with Doin' Good And Bad At The Same Time, a contemporary Chicago style blues track. Buck is backed by Rockin' Johnny Burgin (lead guitar), Rick Kreher (rhythm guitar), John Sefner (bass), Steve Bass (drums), Barrelhouse Chuck (piano) and harp men Bharath Rajakumar and Martin Lang. Darling I Miss You So, the classic Ted Taylor track is right on the spot with crisp riffs by Burgin. Muddy Waters' Strange Woman has a beautifully slow pace which provides plenty of space for Bucks' gritty blues voice, Rajakumar's soulful harp work and tasty guitar tweaks from Burgin. Each featured artist takes a turn showing their stuff, you find yourself just closing your eyes and letting it in. Excellent! Cell Phone Man, another traditional Morganfield Chicago style track sound as if it could have been performed by Waters himself. The authentic feel of the execution is fresh. Another Waters song, Two Trains Running is given a very stripped down,just vocal and acoustic guitar, traditional run and is also executed very well. It has the life of original delta blues. Goin' Down Main Street is a romping blues and features Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and Rajakumar again on harp. It's also great to hear tight little guitar riffs from Burgin on this track. Morganfield's Streamline Woman, gets a very solid cover again sounding very fresh and keeping you wanting more. I love the slide sound on this track. This band just has the sound of having played in the best blues club in Chicago for a long time. Tried To Work Something Out With You is a real sweet track following suit with the balance of the recording but in this case featuring Lang on harp. I Want To Talk To My Baby is another standout on the release again with a very stripped down feel. The track is electrified but kept at a very minimal really highlighting the blues men at their best. Blow Wind Blow closes the release with a smooth rendition of one of Muddy's most popular tracks. This release has a great delivery and is a pleasure to kick back and listen to. There are times throughout this 17 track release that I reach for my guitar because it sucks you in. Great job!

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I'm Going Out Walkin' - Willie Buck

Willie Buck was born in 1937 in the small town of Houston, Mississippi. When he was a boy, Willie spent most of his tme working at a local paper mill making $5 during the day and honing his voice by evening. He began his craft singing in the most popular form of the day, "Rock & Roll." Inspite his vigor for the newly developing artform, his passions began to lean more to the more traditional sound of the delta... Blues and it didn't take him long to develop his sound. While still in "Da South," Willie performed on what became known as the "Chittlin Circuit" bouncin' between Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, North & South Carolina, Tennesee and Texas. Shortly after developing his reputation, Willie did like a lot of Southerners during that time by migrating to Chicago in 1954. Once here, he truly immersed himself in the Chicago Blues scene. He became a real force in the "Maxwell Street" blues scene which boasts od the raw blues talent that it has produced. It was also here that he made his first recording titled "The Disco Blues". This also marked the beginning of his overseas travel to Canada, Mexico, France and Amsterdam. Willie was recently inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame among many of his fellow performers here in Chicago in the summer of 2004. Soon after, he released his latest CD, "I Wanna Be Loved" in early 2005. As the blues scene has declined here in the states, Willie has seen a resurgence... more like a movement in blues overseas. His music is profoundly affecting young and old alike in Europe. "I'm glad to see the newfound appreciation of my music in Europe. I'll be heading back there real soon!" he said. His sound is one that only gets better with age. He's hoping you grow to appreciate the blues too...
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