Blind Pig Records artist: Magic Slim and the Teardrops - Bad Boy - New Release Review

Magic Slim has a new recording, Bad Boy, being released on August 28th and it just hit my desk. Slim, turning 75 this summer hasn't lost a step and sounds as good as ever. Opening with Eddie Taylor's Bad Boy, Slim gets a solid Chicago groove moving and along with his pure vocal style he delivers on guitar. His band is filled out with Jon McDonald on guitar and backing vocals, Andre Howard on bass and vocals and BJ Jones on drums and backing vocals. Following up with Denise LaSalle's Someone Else Is Steppin' In, Slim shares lead with Howard and this track is smooth. I Got Money is next up and Slim takes a little more time to lay down some more extensive guitar riffs. Sunrise Blues has an Elmore James feel but the guitar work is all Slim and without slide. Girl What You Want Me To Do gets a bit more of a rock feel but of course still solid blues roots. Hard Luck Blues slows the tempo down and Slim delivers what may be the best track on the recording with not only deep blues vocals but rock hard guitar work. Gambling Blues, the second of 3 original tracks on the recording takes a shuffle tempo and the band really plays down that road. Muddy Waters track Champagne and Reefer is respectfully covered and not just recited as a cover tune. Slim sings it like it is the first time it was performed and of course adds his trademark guitar work to the mix. J.B. Lenoir's How Much More Long is next on the menu and it gets a bit of an uptempo mix. Addition of backing vocals on this track along with the different tempo gives it a much different feel. Slim of course takes a cool guitar interlude on this track as well. Albert King's Matchbox Blues is played with exuberance and some guitar work that has a little King flair but still retaining Slims own identity. Lil Ed's Older Woman has a real nice lope to it and Slim gets a good chance to show his chops. Slim's composition Country Joyride is a rippin instrumental to wind down the recording. Magic Slim is one of a few traditional Chicago bluesmen in his generation and he's still bringing the heat.
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