JIMMY JOHNSON
EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE
DELMARK RECORDS DE 861
EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE–I NEED YOU SO BAD–MY RING–RATTLESNAKE–SOMEBODY LOAN ME A DIME–DOWN IN THE VALLEY–STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING–BETTER WHEN IT’S WET–LEAD ME ON
Chicago legend, guitarist and vocalist Jimmy Johnson is one of the most brilliant bluesmen of our lifetime. His debut album for Delmark, “Johnson’s Whacks,” came out some four decades ago, and now, at age 90, he has come full-circle. Once again with the Delmark label, he has just released the nine cuts that comprise “Every Day Of Your Life.” His beautiful, upper-register vocals haven’t lost a stroke since we saw him back in the mid-Nineties at the old Boardwalk Cafe, and are on beautiful display throughout this one. .
This set is full of the classic Chicago blues sound that he has been playing his entire career. He begins the set with the funky life lesson that is the title cut, “live Every Day OF Your Life like it’s your last!” Jimmy revisits the good ol’ days with “I Need You So Bad,” with Roosevelt Purifoy on piano, and again with “Down In The Valley,” with Brother John Kattke on keys.
We had three favorites. Jimmy’s at his best with a minor-key slow blues, and his vocals are spot-on with “Strange Things Happening,” and a beautiful, smooth read of Fenton Robinson’s “Somebody Loan Me A Dime.” Jimmy closes on a brilliant note. Showing a side we have never seen, he backs himself on piano on the gospel-ish read of Don Robey’s, “darling, take my hand and just Lead Me On!”
Jimmy Johnson is still going strong, and blues fans all over the whole round world can enjoy this living legend’s latest, “Every Day Of Your Life.” Until next time…..Sheryl and Don Crow.
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