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McKinley James—Working Class Blues—Archive Records

Nashville-based McKinley James played at the recent Red
Rooster Festival in Suffolk and, although I was there, I’m afraid
that I didn’t get to see them (there were 4 different stages!).
Listening to this record I really regret not seeing them as they
have an unusual line-up – 19-year old McKinley James
(vocals/guitar) and his father Jason Smay (drums) - plus
McKinley wrote or co-wrote all the songs here while Jason
produced the album which was recorded in their analogue
home studio. For a two piece they have a really full sound –
much like The Black Keys who they have worked with and who
co-wrote opener ‘Movin’’ with McKinley and which reminded
me of CCR. ‘Get to My Baby’ is a nice stop-time blues that really swings, both the guitar/drums
and also McKinley’s vocals, while ‘Always on My Mind’ and ‘Just a Little Bit’ are both more soulful
and melodic.

‘Crazy Over You’ is another co-write with The Black Keys and sounds very much like them, ‘Leadin’
Me On’ is a chugging mid-tempo soul ballad and ‘Call Me Lonesome’ is a loping 12-bar blues in
the Jimmy Reed-style. ‘Stay With You’ is a ballad co-written with The Keys’ Pat McLaughlin, while
‘Say Goodbye’ is a co-write with both Pat and Dan. Busy drumming propels ‘Wait and See’ an

almost poppy song and the album closes with ‘Till It’s Gone’ a heartfelt soul ballad with both
delicious vocals and subtle guitar playing. Jason is an experienced musician who has previously
worked with J. D. McPherson and Los Straitjackets and has obviously mentored his son in music
but none-the-less young McKinley is both a very talented performer whose singing and guitar
playing is very mature and seemingly effortless and also a very good songwriter. It’s refreshing
to hear someone so young who has such a mastery of roots guitar styles and is happy to present
them without trying to be too flashy. I’m not usually a fan of ‘reduced’ groups - like The White
Stripes and the Black Keys – but I was impressed by the way McKinley James make their minimal
line-up sound so full and similar to classic blues and soul outfits.

Graham Harrison

Johnny Burgin—Ramblin from Coast to Coast—Straight
Shooter Records
Johnny Burgin is sometimes known as Rockin’ Johnny, however
he isn’t a purveyor of blues rock, this is authentic Chicago blues

which he learned in an apprenticeship in the 1980s playing in
the clubs with Chicago blues greats like Taildragger, Pinetop
Perkins, Jimmy Dawkins and Eddie Shaw. He then moved to
the West coast where he linked up with Kid Andersen and while
this album was recorded in studios in Memphis, Dallas,
Rochester and Cincinnati it was mixed and mastered back at
Kid’s Greaseland studio in California. Johnny travelled from
“Coast to Coast” without a band using nineteen pickup
musicians as he went, including John Blues Boyd, Rae Gordon, Mike Morgan, Hanna PK, Ben Levin,
Jon Hay, Dylan Bishop and Jad Tariq.

We kick off with the title track a fast-paced blues with great piano from Christian Dozzier and
‘Gettin’ My Blues On’ is a slow blues with backing singers Lisa Leuscher Andersen, Marina Crouse
and Jill Dinean. ‘I Need Something Sweet’ is a driving blues with great guitar and vocals from