Little Walter and Clifton Chenier

These reviews originally appeared in the June 1978 Buffalo Jazz Report (Issue 52). I do not recall if I purchased these or received review copies.

There is a plethora of other new albums out. How can one miss with Little Walter, Blue and Lonesome (Le Roi du Blues 33.2007). This record contains unissued sides, alternate takes and sides only reissued overseas by the master of blues harmonica. Leonard Chess calls Walter, Little 'Motherfucker' Walter on the longer version of the title track than the released take. Sidemen include Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, the Aces and Robert Lockwood and do I have to tell you the other titles. Great stuff, which might be the only Walter currently in print.

Clifton Chenier has not exactly been under recorded. His new Arhoolie album And His Red Hot Louisiana Band (1078) is typically fine even if it breaks no new ground. John Hart plays great tenor. Clifton wails on accordion and guitarist Paul Senegal gets more than usual solo space. This album is bluesier than Clifton's more recent recordings and especially nice is "Hungry Man Blues" with its Muddy Waters touches and the closing "Highway Blues". A typically solid album that may be overlooked if you are well-stocked with him, but if you don't have any of Clifton's Arhoolie albums, what are you waiting for.

Little Walter's recordings (including those that were on Blue and Lonesome) are available on a number of other reissues. This specific Clifton Chenier recording may be available used. There is plenty of Clifton Chenier on Arhoolie Records available from Smithsonian Folkways. You can visit folkways.si.edu and search for Clifton Chenier. Here Clifton performs "I'm a Hog For You."