I love the blues when it is raw. I love acoustic blues and country blues. I love blues by Brits, like Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac or Chicken Shack. But I have never been a fan of the slick, over-produced blues with a horn section and by-the-book guitar solos. Early Albert and B.B. King? Yes. Late Albert and B.B. King? Not for me. And while I don't deny James Cotton his right to be called one of the legendary harp players of the genre, I can't think of any James Cotton records I like...until now. And I don't even like the album cover.
This is what All Music has to say about Cotton's 1975, Allen Toussaint produced "High Energy" record.
"Shipping Cotton off to New Orleans during the mid-'70s to work with producer Allen Toussaint wasn't a good idea at all. The end result can for the most part be described as disco blues with a Crescent City funk tinge, without much to recommend it on any level."
What the hell is "disco blues?" Are The Meters "disco blues?" How about the producer himself? Is Allen Toussaint a "disco blues" artist?
I discovered "High Energy" while looking for a James Booker track. It was "Hard Time Blues," which sounded a lot like a Meters track with a different vocalist. It turned out to be a Toussaint original from "High Energy" which features Booker on piano on all tracks. I can understand being a tad confused by the music on this record if you were hoping for the usual Cotton blowing session. I was not looking for that and so I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard, a solid band, laying down some Meters-inspired funk and R&B. This record works. The groove on "Chicken Heads" is nasty and "Hard Time Blues" would have been a classic on any Allen Toussaint solo album.
Is "High Energy" a great blues record? Probably not. It's probably not even a good James Cotton record, if you're a fan of the man. But as a fan of New Orleans music, James Booker and Allen Toussaint, this is a fine addition to the collection.
6 comments:
Thanks Sal. I overlooked this one for years.
Been one of my favorite lps since its release. Its a James Cotton album for peope who aren't necessarily Cotton fans. Very reminiscent of the album that Toussaint did with King Biscuit Boy.
BTW, I know you remember JC's Taking Care of Business with Todd, Moogy and a host of others supporting him. I always liked this record although it got slammed in the music press. Just ordered that one too. Good way to start off a week with two new records.
"reminiscent of the album that Toussaint did with King Biscuit Boy."
Yes, pmac! Although I think King Biscuit Boy is a better record.
And Joe,
You'd think I'd love that TCB record, since my boy Todd produced it. But I always felt there was something missing. Not a bad record, just not the record I wanted.
I’m really liking this record, y’all! Thank you, Sal!
@Sal - oh, that Biscuit Boy record is amazing. Best version of Toussaint's Mind Over matter ever recorded.
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