Page 38 - BiTS_11_NOVEMBER_2022

We start with John singing the old Staple Singers’ song ‘The Last Time’ with the lyrics imbued
with an extra poignancy – “This may be the last time we sing together…” but his soul-drenched
vocals here are certainly wonderful as he fronts the backing singers. ‘Rock Bottom’ is a driving
version of the Elvin Bishop song powered by great boogie piano from Bob and ‘Sooner or Later’
is a rerun of a track from John’s ‘Memphis Grease’ album a soul stomper with great bass from
Kid. ‘Feelin’ Good’ is a nice version of the old J. B. Lenoir song with more double bass from Kid –
“All the money in the world spent on feelin’ good” – and ‘Stealing Watermelons’ is another Elvin
Bishop song, a rough and ready down-home blues with Elvin on vocals and John playing harp.

‘I Found Love’ has Willy Jordan sharing the vocals with John on this version of the old Wilson
Pickett and the Falcons’ 1962 soul ballad and we go even further back for ‘Sexy Ways’ a rocking
cover of a 1954 Hank Ballard song. ‘Come on in This House’ is a version of the Junior Wells’ song
– one of John’s heroes and inspirations, while ‘Elbows on the Wheel’ is another reworking of a
song from John’s ‘Memphis Grease’ album. We get great harp and vocals from John on the old
Slim Harpo number ‘Shake Your Hips’ and we finish with another Bishop song ‘I’ll Be Glad’ a
gorgeous slab of prime blues with dirty guitars, sharp backing vocals and keening harp.

I loved this album – for me his best since “Magic Touch” – I felt that Kid Andersen’s production
and the small band, let John’s vocals and harp playing really shine and you get the sense that
everyone here is really enjoying themselves. The soul tracks from ‘Memphis Grease’ which had
sophisticated backing with horns shouldn’t really work in this context but I actually preferred
these more ‘ramshackle’ versions. I very much hope that John will be able to sing and play again
as he recovers from his surgery and I personally hope that he returns to Greaseland to record
more material.

Graham Harrison

Crystal Shawanda—Midnight Blues—True North Records
ASIN : B0B5XCBKDM

Crystal Shawanda is a Canadian who moved to Nashville in 2008
to sing country music but her first love remained the blues and
following her 2014 album “The Whole World’s Got The Blues”
this is now her fifth album in that genre. It was produced by
Crystal's husband Dewayne Strobel (who also plays guitar) and
recorded in Nashville with a band including Dave Roe (bass),
Peter Keys and Jessie O’Brien (keyboards), Stave Marriner and
Harpdog Brown (harmonica), and Mark Becket, Pete Abbott or
Louis Winfield (drums).

The opening title track is a moody blues with Crystal's vocals restrained but still powerful.
However, on Buddy Guy's raunchy 'What Kind of Man is This' she turns the gain up to 11 and on
the rootsy 'Rumpshaker' she also belts it out over a track featuring Marriner's harp and nice
piano and guitar. 'How Bad Do You Want It' and 'Why Do I Love You' are two soulful ballads with
Crystal again holding back to concentrate on melody but on the cover of Howlin' Wolf's 'Evil' she
proves that she can match the power and menace of the great man. 'I Want My Soul Back' is a
funky soul stomper with Hammond organ, 'That’s Just The Woman in Me' is another heartfelt
ballad, 'Hold Me' is an uptempo song delivered over barrelhouse piano and gospel backing
vocals and we check out with the cheesy 'Take a Little Walk With the Moon' - a echo of Crystal's