Bill Sims

• Artist: Bill Sims
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 10, 1999
• Total Time: 56:54
• Genre: Rock

Review

Just like its title, Bill Sims' eponymous PBS / Warner Brothers debut is unpretentious and solid: it's this singer-guitarist's personal overview of the blues. Sims' voice at its most soulful suggests a blues Gil Scott-Heron or Lou Rawls -- smooth, deep rather than flashy, and bittersweet. Some of his guitar solos somehow sound like that too. He transforms "Nobody's Fault But Mine" into a backporch banjo stomp, and tunes by Big Bill Broonzy and Charley Patton into shifty New Orleans second-line funk. He also breaks down a mournful version of Howlin' Wolf's "Mr. Airplane Man," and brings onboard saxophonist Chico Freeman to intensify the slow-burning R&B heat in "Smoky City." ~ Chris Slawecki, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Time Out	Bill Sims	Bill Sims	(4:28)
I Want to See You Again	Jeff Levine, Bill Sims	Bill Sims	(5:03)
Smoky City	Bill Sims, Frank Spinale	Chico Freeman, Bill Sims	(7:30)
Dark Moon Risin'	Jeff Levine, Bill Sims	Bill Sims	(4:06)
As the Years Go Passin' By	Deadric Malone	Bill Sims	(5:27)
When Do I Get to Be Called a Man	Big Bill Broonzy	Bill Sims	(3:24)
Just Like You	Kevin Moore, Keb' Mo', John Lewis Parker	Bill Sims	(4:17)
Black Mare	Traditional	Bill Sims	(5:20)
Blues for Breakfast	Bill Sims, Frank Spinale	Bill Sims	(3:56)
Mr. Airplane Man	Howlin' Wolf, Chester Arthur Burnett	Bill Sims	(5:31)
Man Eater	Bill Sims	Bill Sims	(6:30)
Nobody's Fault But Mine	Traditional	Bill Sims	(1:27)

Credits

Chico Freeman (Sax (Tenor)), Chico Freeman (Performer), Tom Dawes (Producer), Tom Dawes (Mixing), Clark Gayton (Trombone), Clark Gayton (Tuba), Andy Hess (Bass (Electric)), Tony Mason (Drums), Brian Mitchell (Piano), Brian Mitchell (Accordion), Brian Mitchell (Organ (Hammond)), Donny McCaslin (Sax (Tenor)), Vic Anesini (Mastering), Katherine Delaney (Art Direction), Katherine Delaney (Design), Jim Caruana (Engineer), Jim Caruana (Mixing), Pat Cisarano (Vocals (Background)), Ryan Hewitt (Assistant Engineer), Kenny Rampton (Trumpet), Kenny Rampton (Cornet), Bill Sims (Guitar (Acoustic)), Bill Sims (Banjo), Bill Sims (Guitar), Bill Sims (Guitar (Electric)), Bill Sims (Organ (Hammond)), Bill Sims (Vocals), Bill Sims (Main Performer), Bill Sims (Shaker), Keith Shortreed (Assistant Engineer), Larry Phillabaum (Assistant Engineer), George Mitchell (Bass (Acoustic))