Charlie Musselwhite
ROUGH NEWS
Point Blank - 428562
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The voice has matured into a growlly sure vehicle with this release, definitely improved like a good wine with the years in the dark caverns where he makes his living. His harp playing here is sure and deft, getting him and the songs where he wants them to go. I have to say to that the electric Chicago Blues sound is where he best shows off his chops, he seems most comfortable in the groove where he first came to our attention. What I miss here is the one ground breaking song I have come to expect from his musical collections (maybe this is what happens when you bring an expectation to a personal statement), that is played with that shower of sparks that graced some of his earlier works such as 'Stand Back' or 'Stone Blues'. When I looked over the song list and saw Santo and Johnny's SLEEPWALK, and Earle Hagen's HARLEM NOCTURNE, I said to myself "Ahaa!". I was most excited by that gem of the 60's from Santo and Johnny, a tune that no one I know ever tired of, and one that begs for almost a remake. It is one that I would've loved to have heard Danny Gatton do. Please don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these versions of these songs, it's they don't have the innovative fire I come to expect from Charlie Musselwhite. I love the almost Samba beat of FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART. The mood and feel of RAINY HIGHWAY, bring back the memories of the too numerous trips down the highway with the tears of pain obliterating the sunshine of the day.
Songs, times, writers, and Musicians
1. BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE - 3:58 - Fred James/ Richard Carpenter
Charlie Musselwhite - vocals, harmonica, BV
Junior Watson - guitar, BV
Stu Blank - keyboards, BV
Felton Crews - electric bass, BV
Steven Hodges - drums, BV
Producer Dick Sharman - BV
2. I SAT AND CRIED - 3:34 - Jimmy Nelson
Charlie Musselwhite - vocals, harmonica, BV
Junior Watson - guitar, BV
Stu Blank - keyboards, BV
Felton Crews - electric bass, BV
Steven Hodges - drums, BV
Producer Dick Sharman - BV
3. SLEEPWALK -2:31 - Johnny Farina/Santo Farina/Ann Farina
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica
Junior Watson - guitar
Stu Blank - keyboards
Felton Crews - electric bass
Steven Hodges - drums
Producer Dick Sharman
4. NATURAL BORN LOVER - 3:34 - Red Rivers/ Carol Rohde
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica , vocals
Kid Ramos - lead and rhythm guitar
Victor Bisetti - drums
Larry Taylor - bass
Cesar Rosas - slide guitar
5. DARKEST HOUR - 3:48 - Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica, vocal, guitar
John Lawrence - slide guitar
Jeffrey "House" Clemens - drums
A.G. Hardesty - bass
6. HARLEM NOCTURNE - 2:23 - Earle Hagen
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica
Junior Watson - guitar
Stu Blank - keyboards
Felton Crews - electric bass
Steven Hodges - drums
Producer Dick Sharman
7. DRIFTING BOY - 3:30 - Red Rivers/Carol Rohde
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica , vocals
Kid Ramos - lead and rhythm guitar
Victor Bisetti - drums
Larry Taylor - bass
Cesar Rosas - rhythm guitar (solo)
Producer Cesar Rosas
8. ROUGH DRIED WOMAN - 4:30 - D. Clay/B. Earle/A. Williams
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica, vocals
Junior Watson - guitar
Stu Blank - keyboards
Felton Crews - electric bass
Steven Hodges - drums
Producer Dick Sharman
9. FEEL IT IN YOUR HEART - 3:40 - Charlie Musselwhite/Teo Azevedo
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica, vocal
John Lawrence - guitars, churrango
Jeffrey "House" Clemens - drums
Rene Coman - bass
Producer Keith Keller
10. RAINY HIGHWAY - 4:49 - Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite - vocals, slide guitar
Junior Watson - guitar
Felton Crews - electric bass
Steven Hodges - drums
Producer Dick Sharman
11. CLARKDALE BOOGIE - 3:38 - Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite - vocals, guitar
12. ROUGH NEWS - 6:49 - Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica
Junior Watson - guitar (2nd solo)
Fenton Robinson - guitar (1st solo)
Stu Blank - keyboards
Felton Crews - electric bass
Steven Hodges - drums