HOUND DOG TAYLOR
Release the Hound (Alligator Records)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Alligator Records' Bruce Iglauer has found blues treasure in 15 previously unreleased tracks from Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers. This blues gold dates back to the 70's when Bruce captured Hound Dog early in his career, and Release the Hound includes studio outtakes, shows at Harvard and Northwestern, club dates in Cleveland, and an audio track from an Australian TV show, Radio With Pictures, before Hound Dog died of cancer in 1975. Although he's been gone nearly 30 years now, Release the Hound is more than a powerful memorial to one of the rawest blues players that ever picked up a Silvertone guitar. Sit back and enjoy loose, slightly (but beautifully) distorted versions of Brother Ray's "What'd I Say" or Hound Dog's popular nine minute closing romp bringing two of his signature songs together "See Me in the Evening" and "It's Alright." With Hound Dog's other Alligators like Natural Boogie, Genuine Houserocking Music, Beware of the Dog, or the Deluxe Edition compilation, I thought I'd satisfied my Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers jones just fine. Turns out, I hadn't. Not by a long shot. Release the Hound is a reason to celebrate raw, Southside Chicago slide blues in the hands of a rough and ragged master.

Track List:

Into by John Platt * Wild About You Baby * Sen Sa Shun * She's Gone * It Hurts Me Too * What'd I Say? * One More Time * Sadie * The Dog Meets the Wolf * Walking the Ceiling * Sitting at Home Alone * Phillips Screwdriver * Gonna Send You Back to Georgia * Things Don't Work Out Right * See Me in the Evening/It's Alright

© 2004 - Eric Steiner