Watermelon Slim review…January 6, 2019…

WATERMELON SLIM

CHURCH OF THE BLUES

NORTHERN BLUES MUSIC  NBM  065

ST. PETER’S LEDGER–TAX MAN BLUES–GYPSY WOMAN–POST-MODERN BLUES–GET OUT OF MY LIFE WOMAN–MNI WICONI THE WATER SONG–ME AND MY WOMAN–SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING–THAT OLE 1-4-5–HOLLER # 4–61 HIGHWAY BLUES–TOO MUCH ALCOHOL–CHARLOTTESVILLE (BLUES FOR MY NATION)–HALLOWEEN MAMA

Born in Boston as William Homans III, Watermelon Slim has enjoyed a long, illustrious career as one of the most unique bluesmen on this planet.  He learned to play slide guitar by listening to Mississippi Fred McDowell records and using his Government Issue Zippo lighter as a slide on a balsa wood guitar.  He’s come a long way since then, and will release his thirteenth album overall on January 25, 2019, entitled “Church Of The Blues,” for the Northern Blues label.  There are seven Slim originals mixed in with seven covers, and Slim pulls it all together with a little help from several of his friends.

Bob Margolin adds guitar on the set opener, as Slim knows his “books are way behind,” as far as “St. Peter’s Ledger” is concerned.  Next up, Slim laments “what the Tax Man has done to me,” before he and Bob team up again on one of Muddy’s chestnuts, “Gypsy Woman,” and what happens when you “peep thru your keyhole!”  Nick Schnebelen guests on guitar as Slim bemoans his obsolescence and inability to cope in this century, “Post Modern Blues.”

Slim shouts out to the sounds of the Delta with a slide-fueled take on “Smokestack Lightning,” while nobody can do a “Holler # 4” quite like Slim can!  And, since he learned from the records of Fred McDowell, he returns the favor with a brilliant “61 Highway Blues!”

We had two favorites, too. Slim calls out to ol’ J. B. Hutto on his original tune, the slidin,’ fish-fried boogie of “Too Much Alcohol.”  At the other end of the spectrum, “Charlottesville (Blues For My Nation)” calls for peace and love “no matter who may be our president.”

Watermelon Slim is a bona fide Mensa member, he’s been a watermelon farmer, and, yeah, a “wheel man.”  Over and above it all, tho, he’s a great bluesman, and “Church Of The Blues” continues to add to his outstanding legacy!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.