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Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band

 
Album Review: Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band
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Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band

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Review

Vanguard may have spelled his name wrong (he prefers Charlie or Charles), but the word was out as soon as this solo debut was released: Here was a harpist every bit as authentic, as emotional, in some ways as adventuresome, as Paul Butterfield. Similarly leading a Chicago band with a veteran Black rhythm section (Fred Below on drums, Bob Anderson on bass) and rock-influenced soloists (keyboardist Barry Goldberg, guitarist Harvey Mandel), Musselwhite played with a depth that belied his age -- only 22 when this was cut! His gruff vocals were considerably more affected than they would become later (clearer, more relaxed), but his renditions of "Help Me," "Early in the Morning," and his own "Strange Land" stand the test of time. He let his harmonica speak even more authoritatively on instrumentals like "39th and Indiana" (essentially "It Hurts Me Too" sans lyrics) and "Cha Cha the Blues," and his version of jazz arranger Duke Pearson's gospel-tinged "Cristo Redentor" has become his signature song -- associated with Musselwhite probably more so than with trumpeter Donald Byrd, who originally recorded the song for Blue Note. Goldberg is in fine form (particularly on organ), but Mandel's snakey, stuttering style really stands out -- notably on "Help Me," his quirky original "4 P.M.," and "Chicken Shack," where he truly makes you think your record is skipping. ~ Dan Forte, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Baby Will You Please Help Me Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Musselwhite (3:20)
No More Lonely Nights Charlie Musselwhite (5:14)
Cha Cha the Blues Charlie Musselwhite (3:13)
Christo Redemptor Duke Pearson Charlie Musselwhite (3:21)
Help Me Ed Ward Charlie Musselwhite (3:29)
Chicken Shack Charlie Musselwhite (4:17)
Strange Land Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Musselwhite (3:04)
39th and Indiana Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band (4:12)
My Baby Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band (2:46)
Early in the Morning Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band (4:31)
4 P.M. Harvey Mandel Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band (3:17)
Sad Day Barry Goldberg Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band (5:04)

Credits

Charlie Musselwhite (Guitar), Charlie Musselwhite (Harmonica), Charlie Musselwhite (Vocals), Charlie Musselwhite (Main Performer), Charlie Musselwhite (Performer), Harvey Mandel (Guitar), Barry Goldberg (Organ), Barry Goldberg (Guitar), Barry Goldberg (Piano), Barry Goldberg (Keyboards), Barry Goldberg (Producer), Bob Anderson (Bass), Fred Below (Drums), Samuel Charters (Producer), Pete Welding (Liner Notes)
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Wikipedia: Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band
Studio album by Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band
Released 1966 or 1967
Genre Blues
Length 45:48
Label Vanguard
Producer Samuel Charters, Barry Goldberg
Professional reviews
Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band chronology
Stand Back! Here Comes Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band
(1967)		 Blues from Chicago
(1968)

Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band is the 1966 or 1967 debut album of American blues-harp musician Charlie Musselwhite, leading Charlie Musselwhite's Southside Band.[1] The Vanguard Records release brought Musselwhite to notability among blues musicians and also helped bridge the gap between blues and rock and roll, musically and in marketing. With rough vocals and notable performances on harmonica, guitar and bass guitar, the album was critically well received. It introduced Musselwhite's signature song, his cover of Duke Pearson's "Cristo Redemptor".

Contents

Critical reception and influence

The album has been critically well-received, variously described as "legendary",[2] "seminal",[3] and "one of the classic blues albums of the decade."[4] Its success established Musselwhite in the field of blues music, but it had impact on the rock and roll music world as well.[2][5] The Southside Band, named for Chicago's South Side, was a combination of blues rhythm section—with Fred Below and Bob Anderson—and rock-influenced musicians Barry Goldberg and Harvey Mandel.[6] Among the first blues albums targeted also to fans of rock and roll,[5] it was influential in bridging the gap between blues and rock.[2] The album's success allowed Musselwhite to launch a career as a full-time musician, relocating from Chicago to California, and also secured his reputation as a harmonica player whose collaborations have included Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Tom Waits, Ben Harper and INXS.[7][8] The album is among Musselwhite's most successful.[9]

Music

Among the album's tracks, "Cristo Redemptor" has remained particularly important in Musselwhite's repertoire, standing as his signature song, although subsequent versions of the Duke Pearson cover have been longer.[6][10] Musselwhite's music here is characterized by smooth harmonica a "harsh, almost strained voice" that Allmusic indicates is "considerably more affected than...later [vocals] (clearer, more relaxed)".[3][6] Mandel's guitar work, influential, features what Legends of Rock Guitar describes as "relentless fuzztone, feedback-edged solos, and unusual syncopated phrasing."[2] Allmusic highlights the guitarist's "snakey stuttering style", particularly on track "Chicken Shack" in which it "truly makes you think your record is skipping."[6] Bass player Bob Anderson, who later played with Howlin' Wolf,[11] has been singled out for a noteworthy rendition of the classic root-♭3rd-4th progression in the song "Help Me".[12]

Release history

First released in 1966 or 1967 on Vanguard Records, catalog number VRS-9232 monaural or stereo VSD-79232,[1][13] the album has been subsequently re-released several times on LP and CD by Vanguard and Ace.[6]

Track listing

Unless otherwise indicated, composer uncredited.

  1. "Baby Will You Please Help Me" (Charlie Musselwhite) – 3:20
  2. "No More Lonely Nights" – 5:14
  3. "Cha Cha the Blues" – 3:13
  4. "Christo Redemptor" (Duke Pearson) – 3:21
  5. "Help Me" (Carreras, Farver, Ed Ward) – 3:29
  6. "Chicken Shack" – 4:17
  7. "Strange Land" (Musselwhite) – 3:04
  8. "39th and Indiana" (Musselwhite) – 4:12
  9. "My Baby" – 2:46
  10. "Early in the Morning" – 4:31
  11. "4 P.M." (Harvey Mandel) – 3:17
  12. "Sad Day" (Barry Goldberg) – 5:04

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b There is discrepancy in sources as to the year of initial release, with many sources including Allmusic citing 1967 and various books and newspapers citing 1966. The artist's own website cites 1967 on its discography page, while also reproducing various press articles that variously list both years. See Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band at Allmusic, Musselwhite's press page and Musselwhite's music page.
  2. ^ a b c d Prown, Pete; Harvey P. Newquist, Jon F. Eiche (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 42. ISBN 0793540429. http://books.google.com/books?id=60Jde3l7WNwC&pg=PA42&dq=Stand+Back!+Here+Comes+Charlie+Musselwhite%27s+Southside+Band&client=firefox-a. "His guitar work on the legendary Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's South Side Band (1996) rivaled the playing of both Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton and brought blues and rock'n'roll another step closer to one another with his relentless fuzztone, feedback-edged solos, and unusual syncopated phrasing." 
  3. ^ a b Dicaire, David (2002). More Blues Singers: Biographies of 50 Artists from the Later 20th Century. McFarland. p. 67. ISBN 0786410353. http://books.google.com/books?id=3E3pGRLc1L8C&pg=PA67&dq=Stand+Back!+Here+Comes+Charlie+Musselwhite%27s+Southside+Band&client=firefox-a. 
  4. ^ Santelli, Robert (1993). The Big Book of Blues: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Penguin. p. 305. ISBN 0140159398. 
  5. ^ a b Cahill, Greg (February 21-27, 2002). "Southern style: Charlie Musselwhite gets back to his country roots". North Bay Bohemian. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/02.21.02/musselwhite-0208.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-09. 
  6. ^ a b c d e Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band at Allmusic
  7. ^ Varga, George (2006-05-19). "Harpin' on blues". San Diego Union Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060519/news_lz1c19pg2am.html. Retrieved on 2009-01-09. 
  8. ^ "Ione festival features blues musician Musselwhite". Heppner Gazette-Times: p. 4. 2005-06-29. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TrUMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OWUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4400,962742&dq=stand-back+charlie+musselwhite. Retrieved on 2009-01-09. 
  9. ^ Silverman, Leigh (1995-10-26). "Mussel Man". Phoenix New Times. http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1995-10-26/music/mussel-man/. Retrieved on 2009-01-09. 
  10. ^ Tipaldi, Art (2002). Children of the Blues: 49 Musicians Shaping a New Blues Tradition. Backbeat Books. p. 69. ISBN 0879307005. http://books.google.com/books?id=oFleFn79Ao0C&pg=PA69&dq=Musselwhite+%22Cristo+Redentor%22&lr=#PPA69,M1. 
  11. ^ Segrest, James; Mark Hoffman (2005). Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 301. ISBN 1560256834. http://books.google.com/books?id=3gYO9sDG8VMC&pg=PA301&dq=%22Bob+Anderson%22+bass&client=firefox-a. 
  12. ^ Coryat, Karl (1999). The Bass Player Book: Equipment, Technique, Styles, and Artists. Backbeat Books. p. 75. ISBN 0879305738. http://books.google.com/books?id=m0Bwm9QCU3gC&pg=PA75&dq=%22Bob+Anderson%22+bass&client=firefox-a. 
  13. ^ Reed, Peter Hugh. American Record Guide. 33, 1966-1967. Helen Dwight Reid Educational Foundation. p. 1053. http://books.google.com/books?lr=&id=vmQfAAAAMAAJ&dq=Vanguard+Records+Musselwhite+Stand&q=VRS-9232&pgis=1#search_anchor. 

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