ROBERT NIGHTHAWK
Live on Maxwell Street, 1964 (Bullseye Blues)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Robert Nighthawk's remastered set from 1964, Live on Maxwell Street, features some great slide guitar from one of the giants of electric Chicago blues. Rounder released it 20 years ago, and this remix includes a 13-minute interview with Nighthawk. Happily, the CD's got all of the raw street energy that only Maxwell Street could capture. From Muddy, to B.B. and Snooky Pryor, among many other blues greats, Maxwell Street was the first stop for many a bluesman (and blueswoman) in post-war Chicago. There's not much left of Maxwell Street at the turn of the new century, but this disc is a reminder of the electric Chicago blues incubator that once was. His slide is in top form on "Annie Lee/Sweet Black Angel," and the lively "I You're your Love So Bad." J.B. Lenoir sings "Mama Talk to Your Daughter," along with Chicago harmonica legend Carey Bell (who also flat-out cooks on "Maxwell Street Jam." Nighthawk's interview is more than an oral history of the blues, in the great tradition of Studs Terkel (another giant of Chicago's cultural scene). When Robert gets tongue tied, he answers with some pretty good fretwork, letting his guitar do the talking. That's how it's supposed to be, just like when he's got the "Big World Blues" or when the band goes full-tilt boogie on Sonny Boy Williamson's "Take It Easy Baby." Sit back and join the crowd. I hope the folks at the Grammys or Handy Awards listen, too: Live on Maxwell Street 1964 captures one of the masters of post-war, electric Chicago blues.

Track List:

Cheating and Lying Blues * Juke Medley * The Time Have Come * Honey Hush * I Need Your Love So Bad * Take It Easy Baby * Anna Lee/Sweet Black Angel * Big World Blues * Maxwell Street Jam * I Got News For You * All I Want For Breakfast/Them Kind Of People * Mama Talk To Your Daughter * The Real McCoy * Interview

© 2000 - Eric Steiner