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He presents a wonderful slide-driven melodic version of Gary Davis’s ‘Samson & Delilah’ and don't

expect any festive cheer from 'Santa Claus Blues', a dark and edgy blues originally done by blues
pianist Walter Davis. 'Scoodle Oot’N’Doo' is a Catfish original played on ukulele which does bring a
bit of levity and this continues on 'Red Nightgown’ by Jimmie Davis but stops on Memphis Minnie's

stark tale of domestic violence ‘Dirty Mother For You’. 'Listen to the Mockingbird' is a pleasant
instrumental and the final track is the sublime 'Some of These Days' - Charley Patton’s song taken
at a funeral pace with wonderful ringing, echoey slide guitar. Although I've mentioned Keith's

guitar playing, which is fabulous throughout, his singing is also very good and really sells every
song. This is a very good album which should appeal to anyone interested in roots music and
particularly guitarists.

Graham Harrison

Bobo Jenkins—Decoration Day Blues—Soul Jam Records 806191
(2021)

Many years ago, I bought an album by Bobo Jenkins which was
released on his own label, Big Star Records. The musical content

was, to say the least, pretty rough. On one track for instance a
telephone is ringing halfway through the recording, but they
continued playing and the track was actually included on the

album!! I loved it, for me this was the genuine article.

This cd contains hard to find 45s he recorded for a variety of
labels during the ‘50’s and ‘60’s... Fortune, Boxer, Duchess and Chess, plus a few from his own Big

Star.The twenty one tracks featured have all been remastered and sound great. There are extensive
notes by James Chumet and Gary Blailock with photos of Bobo and a few label shots. Session
details are also included (where known) with backing musicians, some you’ll have heard of I’m

sure, Eddie Taylor, Willie Johnson, Earl Phillips, Robert Richard among them. This is an important
release, grab a copy soon because there’s not a great amount of Bobo Jenkins material currently
available, maybe just the odd track here and there. If you like your blues rough and ready, this is
for you.

Bob Pearce

Baby Boy Warren—Bad Lover Blues the Complete Singles (1950 -
1962) —Soul Jam Records 806192 (2021)

Another gem from Soul Jam Records and, as with the Bobo
Jenkins release we’re staying in Detroit, this time with Baby Boy

Warren. Robert ‘Baby Boy’ Warren was one of the leading figures
in the Detroit blues scene of the 1950’s and early 1960’s and, like
other artists of that time, recorded for numerous record labels....
releases from Federal, Gotham, Staff, J-V-B, Blue Lake and others

are all featured on this set.