The Blues Never Die!

• Artist: Otis Spann
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1969 10
• Total Time: 33:46
• Genre: Blues

Review

Boasting fellow Chicago blues dynamo James Cotton on both harmonica and lead vocals, The Blues Never Die! is one of Otis Spann's most inspired albums. When this session was recorded for Prestige's Bluesville subsidiary in 1964, Spann was still best known for playing acoustic piano in Muddy Waters' band. But The Blues Never Die! (which Fantasy reissued on CD in 1990 on its Original Blues Classics imprint) shows that he was as great a leader as he was a sideman. From Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready" (a Chess gem Spann had played numerous times with Waters) and Elmore James' "Dust My Broom" to Cotton's spirited "Feelin' Good" and Spann's dark-humored "Must Have Been the Devil," Spann and Cotton enjoy a very strong rapport on this consistently rewarding date. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Blues Never Die	Otis Spann	Otis Spann	(3:40)
I Got a Feeling	Otis Spann	Otis Spann	(2:50)
One More Mile to Go	James Cotton	Otis Spann	(3:45)
Feelin' Good	James Cotton	Otis Spann	(3:25)
After Awhile	Otis Spann	Otis Spann	(3:57)
Dust My Broom	Elmore James	Otis Spann	(2:40)
Straighten Up, Baby	James Cotton	Otis Spann	(2:30)
Come On	Otis Spann	Otis Spann	(2:38)
Must Have Been the Devil	Otis Spann	Otis Spann	(2:38)
Lightnin'	James Cotton	Otis Spann	(2:40)
I'm Ready	Willie Dixon	Otis Spann	(3:03)

Credits

James Cotton (Harmonica), James Cotton (Vocals), James Cotton (?), Samuel Charters (Producer), Phil DeLancie (Digital Remastering), S.P. Leary (Drums), S.P. Leary (?), James Madison (Guitar), James Madison (?), Muddy Waters (Guitar), Milton Rector (Bass), Milton Rector (Bass (Electric)), Milton Rector (?), Don Schlitten (Design), Otis Spann (Piano), Otis Spann (Vocals), Otis Spann (Main Performer), Pete Welding (Liner Notes), Dirty Rivers (Guitar)