SAM LAY BLUES BAND
Rush Hour Blues (Telarc)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Sam Lay's been behind the drum kit for some of the greatest Chicago blues ever recorded, including Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and over 40 classic Chess Records sides in the 1960's.

When Bob Dylan plugged in and electrified the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, Sam was his drummer. Sam also played with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, one of the best Chicago blues bar bands ever. Since then, he's worked steadily at worldwide blues festivals and in and around Chicago with his own band: Larry Burton on lead guitar, Fred James on rhythm guitar, Celia Ann Price on keyboards, Bob Kommersmith on acoustic bass, and Greg "Fingers"Taylor on harmonica. On Rush Hour Blues, these guys (and Ms. Price) cook. "Baby How Long," "Second Man," and the title cut show that these guys got the sound and the power of Chicago blues down cold. Telarc's got a real treasure in Rush Hour Blues, and despite some outrageous lyrics about women here and there, I'd recommend getting stuck in Rush Hour Blues over the express lanes anytime.

Track List:

Baby How Long * Second Man * I'll Be The Judge of That * I Like Women * Blow Wind Blow * I Got Two Women * Somebody Gotta Do It * Mama and Papa Hopkins * Rush Hour Blues * I'm Gonna Shoot Her * Pure Grain Alcohol * Midnight Drag

© 2000 - Eric Steiner