Joe 'Guitar' Hughes - Johnny Jones - Chris Thomas King

(1) Joe “Guitar” Hughes

Stuff Like That

Blues Express BEI-0002-1

Stuff Like That/ A Blues Song/ Ouchie Baby/ My Baby Told Me/ Pit Bull/ Going to San Francisco/ Bad Dreams/ When a Man Loves a Woman/ If You Want to See the Blues/ Bonus Track - Interview with Joe. 56:25.

Hughes, g, v; Bobby Murray, g; Leonard Gill, b; Tim Brockett, org; Dave Matthews, kybds; Tony Coleman, d; George Brooks; s; Mic Gillette, tbn, Marvin McFadden, tpt. San Francisco CA. 

(2) Johnny Jones

Blues Is In The House

NorthernBlues Music NBM 0007

A Fool Never Learns/ Girlfriend Blues/ I’m Gonna Love You/ Stacked in the Back/ I Could Be Dangerous/ I’ll Be the Judge of That/ Love Recession/ Good Idea At the Time/ Your Stuff Is Rough/ Farm Boy/ Why Can’t We Be Alone/ Really/ A Rock and a Hard Case/ The Blues Is In the House -1.

Jones, v, g; Fred James, g; Jeff Davis, b; Billy Earnheart, kybds; Dennis Taylor, s; Bryan Owings, d; Mary-Ann Brandon, Charles Walker, bckg vcl; Charles Walker, vcl-1. Nashville, TN. January 2000.

(3) Chris Thomas King

The Legend of Tommy Johnson: Act 1 Genesis 1900s-1990s

21st Century Blues

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (A Capella)/ Trouble Will be Soon Over/ Canned Heat Blues/ Flooded in the Delta/ Watermelon Man/ John Law Burned Down the Liquor Store/ Red Shoes/ Bonnie & Clyde in D Minor/ Do Fries Go With That Shake/ O Brother Where Art Thou? -1/ Spread the Glory (Requiem) -1. 48:32.

Thomas King, v, g; -1 also includes Voodoo Dolls. No other information given.

Part of Houston’s vibrant blues scene of the past five decades, Joe Hughes may not be as celebrated as his good friend, the late Johnny Copeland. This fact that hopefully will change with the release of (1) on Blues Express. Hughes played around the various Houston clubs, toured with a variety of R&B giants, and spent some time as a session musician for Duke before he decided he wanted to stay at home rather than deal with the road life. A trip to Europe with Copeland helped reinvigorate his career and this is the latest of several albums he has recorded, the first this reviewer has heard. It is a terrific live recording with a brassy band backing up Hughes' strong, jazzy guitar leads and smooth, soulful singing that is reminiscent of the legendary Junior Parker. 

There is variety in material that is performed at a high level. “My Baby Told Me” is a solid slow blues about his woman telling him not to do as she does, but do as she tell him to do so that they are making love she get exactly what she wants. Melodically, it is suggestive of “Going to Chicago” and there is some call and response between the guitars of Hughes and Bobby Murray. An instrumental version of “When A Man Loves A Woman” is nicely delivered. Hughes' other originals are fresh lyrically, his musicianship exemplary and the band is wonderful especially given the fact that they avoid playing classic blues tunes. This strong release makes one why Hughes’ name is not better known among blues fans.

Nashville is not known as a blues and soul town, but it was home for several classic R&B labels including Excello. Johnny Jones is among the performers that have long been at the root of this scene. He has had several recent recordings for a variety of labels including a live European recording with deep soul singer Charles Walker. (2) is Jones’ new disc on NorthernBlues Music, and includes a number of originals. Most of these are from the pen of Fred James who has been a driving force in the revival of the careers of Jones, Walker and others. Walker is a solid soul-blues performer with a style akin to the late Fenton Robinson. The songs include some clever lyrics built, sometimes built around some everyday phrases like “A Rock & A Hard Place,” and “A Good Idea At the Time.” The latter number sounds familiar and may have been previously recorded by Jones and/or one of the other performers that James has worked with such as Roscoe Shelton or Earl Gaines. Jones is a pretty fair guitarist guitar and sings with plenty of heart and authority throughout. The studio band provides solid support with horns effectively employed on several tracks and a strong, swinging rhythm section. Like the Hughes disc, this is a notable recording of soul-infused blues.

Chris Thomas King has had a rather varied and interesting career as a performer and recording artist. Thomas King comes from a blues pedigree. His father Tabby Thomas recorded for Excello and operated for a legendary blues club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Not afraid of musical barriers, he has delved into world-beat, blues-rock, rap with more traditional blues in the recordings he has made. He certainly has had his profile raised by portraying legendary Mississippi bluesman Tommy Johnson in the movie Oh Brother. This has been augmented by his appearance on the Oh Brother soundtrack, surprisingly one of 2001 biggest selling albums, and the musical tour that was inspired by the soundtrack. Not surprisingly, King latches on to this role for his latest disc, (3). Two tracks are credited to the Voodoo Dolls, but the review copy was devoid of any identification of this group which I assume is the latest band that Thomas King leads. The album provides us with a solo rendition of “O Brother Where Art Thou” and a contrasting electrified band updating of the number. Thomas King has an appealing voice that especially works with acoustic oriented numbers like “Watermelon Man”, where overdubbing allows him to do a call and response with himself. Another acoustic gem is the spiritual “Trouble Will Soon Be Over,” where he forcefully strums on his guitar while fervently delivering the lyric. There have been stronger renditions of Tommy Johnson’s “Canned Heat Blues” by performers like Boogie Bill Webb and others who knew Johnson personally, although Thomas King evokes Johnson’s use of a yodel-like falsetto. “Flooded in the Delta” brings together fragments from a variety of blues (including Charlie Patton’s “High Water Everywhere” and “Drifting Blues”) as well as evokes the “Crossroads,” with an accompaniment that alludes to Robert Johnson and Patton, even incorporating some Patton-like guitar slaps. The last six selections are in a band context. “John Law Burned the Liquor Store” is a rollicking tune with Thomas playing some slide on a dobro or steel guitar. “Red Shoes,” with some frenzied slide playing, has a rock-laced boogie accompaniment. “Do Fries Go With That Shake” has a classic rock and roll groove, although Thomas’ vocals do not come across quite as strongly on these latter tunes. An eclectic release of interest but perhaps too varied to be compelling for many.

These are reviews I wrote for Cadence in early 2002. I likely received review copies from the record companies or from Cadence. the Joe Hughes and the Chris Thomas King are still available, The Johnny Jones may only be available used.