Barrellhouse Chuck And The All Star Blues Band
The Sirens Records SR-5104
Blues Revue, Feb/Mar 2007
Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvin Bishop, and Nick Gravenites
were among the first generation of white musicians to live with and be
mentored by postwar Chicago bluesmen in the early 1960’s. Almost 20 years
later, Barrelhouse Chuck Goering did the same thing: In 1979 he drove 24
hours straight from Florida to Chicago to meet Sunnyland Slim, spent the
next decade playing with Slim (and practically every other blues pianist
living in Chicago at that time), and became Little Brother Montgomery’s ‘Man
Friday’ in the process. It was Otis Spann’s work with Muddy Waters that
sent Goering on his musical odyssey, and Got My Eyes On You chronicles this
pilgrim’s progress with delicious results.
Backed by a band that defines early South Side electric blues, this 13-track
album takes you back to the 1950s with an elan that would make Sunnyland,
Montgomery, Memphis Slim, Johnny ‘Big Moose’ Walker, Detroit Junior, and
Floyd Jones swell with pride. Goering’s All-Star Blues Band includes Muddy
Waters’ longstanding rhythm section, drummer Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith and
bassist Calvin ‘Fuzz’ Jones. Joel Foy and Eddie Taylor Jr. share guitar
duties, while Kim Wilson blows some fat harp.
Everything is done right. Goering showcases his chops without overpowering
a band that lives up to its heritage on each song. His excellent vocals
avoid sinking into parodies of his mentors. The repertoire is varied enough
to give even novices a representative sampling of Chicago blues styles.
Standouts include the title cut by Otis ‘Big Smokey’ Smothers, a rich
version of ‘Mother Earth’ (Tracy Nelson’s signature song), and an
interesting variation on Booker T.’s ‘Green Onions’ called ‘The Bright
Sounds of Big Moose,’ credited to Johnny " Big Moose" Walker and featuring
Goering on B3 organ.
Return to more Press
