The Blues Had A Baby

The blues of Lurrie Bell comes from a turbulent place, but there’s no denying the man can play. This album brings together tracks from three different sessions, the bulk being held in 1997. Supported by a spartan rhythm section, Bell sprays kamikaze guitar licks over a bevy of old standards like “Five Long Years,” “Who Do You Love,” “Mean Old Frisco,” and “You’re the One.” The last four songs on the album are the real treat; cut in 1995 at the Mercurial Son sessions, this is just Lurrie and his electric guitar running through raw, soulful, and sometimes whacked-out versions of everything from “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” to “If I Had a Hammer.” If you’ve wondered what all the fuss is about, grab this CD and turn on to the blues world of Lurrie Bell. – Cub Koda