SNOOKY PRYOR
And His Mississippi Wrecking Crew (Electro-Fi)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Toronto's Electro-Fi Records threw an 80th birthday party for blues harmonica legend Snooky Pryor and producer Andrew Galloway invited some of Snooky's good friends to jam awhile at the Liquid Studio, including fellow elder blues statesman Pinetop Perkins, who can still rock the house on the ivories at 88 years old. Listen to this dream team of the blues: there's Snooky and Pinetop, Mel Brown on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith behind the drums. Canadian blues guitarist extraordinaire Jeff Healey sits in with the Mississippi Wrecking Crew on a few cuts, too. Healy and Brown trade leads like lightning on "Electro-Fi Blues," and this first-class blues pick-up band rocks full tilt on "I Ain't Seen My Baby." Snooky's vocals are in blues textbook form on the original Sonny Boy Williamson's "Sugar Mama Blues." Snooky Pryor and his Mississippi Wrecking Crew is one of my favorite blues releases that celebrates Snooky Pryor, a true blues giant that's still making history.

Track List:

Rock-a-while * School Days * Electro-Fi Blues * Decoration Day * I Ain't Seen My Baby * Pinetop's Grinder Man Blues * Kind Lover * Sugar Mama Blues * Corinna * After You (There Won't Be Nobody Else)

© 2003 - Eric Steiner