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The Blues Rolls On

by

Elvin Bishop

 
The Blues Rolls On
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Avg: 4.0 (41 ratings)

A 60s veteran pays homage to past greats and shares the stage with future legends

  • We Say...

    Review by John Morthland

    An eminently likable but nonessential veteran of the '60s blues revival, Bishop describes this album as his attempt to pay homage to his mentors and influences while providing moral support to more contemporary acolytes. It's hardly surprising that the best cut is the relaxed, rolling version of Roy Milton's "Keep a Dollar in Your Pocket" that shows off the good-timing side of B.B. King. Much of the other memorable stuff here comes from Bishop's revivalist peers — Kim Wilson's urban/rural harmonica blend on the title track, Angela Strehli's finessed vocals on "Night Time Is the Right Time" — as well as Elvin's own jagged, shattering slide guitar on the self-effacingly autobiographical "Oklahoma." But just as often the kids are alright, too; Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes stage a raunchy, shrieking guitar duel on the remake of Elvin's "Struttin' My Stuff," John Nemeth sings "Night Time Is the Right Time" with verve and conviction that belies his youth and positively wails harmonica on the instrumental take of Jimmy Reed's "Honest I Do" and Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule scorches Elvin lick for lick on the slide guitar eruption that is "The Blues Rolls On." It's almost enough to make you think that the last half-century of blues does represent continuity rather than disruption.

  • They Say...

    Review by Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide

    Bishop hops labels once again, this time to the relatively young and scrappy Delta Groove imprint, while calling up some names in his obviously well-stocked Rolodex to assist on his first predominately studio album in three years. Like most guest studded affairs, this is an inconsistent but enjoyable romp. It also works as a career recap of sorts with Bishop revisiting "Yonder's Wall," a tune from his Butterfield Blues Band days (with Ronnie Baker Brooks and Tommy Castro), along with the Southern styled party sound that proved so commercially viable during his '70s Capricorn affiliation, in addition to other covers. He strips things down for a solo musical life history in "Oklahoma," an electric, educational traipse through his back pages from his early years in the titular state, set against stark, distorted boogie guitar. He taps the youngsters in the Homemade Jamz Blues Band, another Delta Groove signing, for a cool grooving version of Junior Wells' "Come On in This House," and features John Nemeth on vocals for three tracks and harp on the closing midtempo Jimmy Reed instrumental "Honest I Do," apparently the first blues song a young Bishop heard on his transistor radio as a child in Oklahoma. Fellow boogie man George Thorogood squares off with Bishop and takes lead vocals for a frolic through Hound Dog Taylor's "Send You Back to Georgia," and Bishop references his Capricorn days with current Allman Brothers Band guitarists Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes on a reworked "Struttin' My Stuff." B.B. King stops by for a short interview that leads into a jazzy, swinging cover of Roy Milton's "Keep a Dollar in Your Pocket," a song King was familiar with from his old Memphis DJ days. R.C. Carrier and Andre Thierry shift the proceedings to a bluesy, zippy zydeco on "Black Gal." As you can see, the album is pieced together from a variety of sessions in different locations, resulting in a patchwork set that, despite many excellent and above all enthusiastic performances, never quite gels. Like the collage of pictures on the back cover, this is more a scrapbook of Bishop playing with his pals and acquaintances than a focused project, but there is enough quality music here to attract established fans, even if this isn't the place to generate new ones.

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