Mac Arnold
& Plate Full O’ Blues
Country Man
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This is an apt title for this returned to South Carolina native and farmer, who was a southpaw bass player in The Muddy Waters Band in Chicago in the 1960s. On this disc we are treated to Mac playing both his gas can guitar, he and his brother built their first one when he was 10 out of scraps from around the house, and his great bass so reminiscent of his days with Muddy in Chicago; we also have his vibrato laden voice which is warm in a way that will remind you of his time in the church. For a little spice on this disc he has Bob Margolin up in the producers chair and also laying down some guitar and vocals on a couple of cuts.
This disc leans more on his native soil for warmth of sound and the songwriting. It is a Southern Blues disc in feel and sound and the addition on various cuts of Bob Margolin, who has lived these
past years in the south, in Virginia and North Carolina. The Chicago sound is there, but the dominance of the southern feel rules, it is blues that are slow cooked with plenty of local sweetening. The Plate Full O’ Blues is a backing band that is fully in sync with Mac and supports his moves in the manner of a band that has seen many miles and nights. 11 of the 13 songs too are credited to Mac and the band, of the remaining 2, one is a great cover of Muddy Waters “Screamin’ and Cryin’” and the other is Robert Miller’s “If Walls Could Talk”. This is one of those disc that will put a smile on your face for the warmth with which the music is played and the rawness of the sound.