EDDY CLEARWATER - MEAN CASE OF THE BLUES (ClearTone Records)

Together with the likes of Jimmy Dawkins, Son Seals and Eddy C. Campbell, Eddy Clearwater is one of the last orignal heros of the so called "West-Side Chicago Blues". As Son put a lot of funk in his music, Clearwater always likes to rock 'n' roll in the way Chuck Berry does it. Over the years he travelled nearly the whole world, recorded albums in France, while the famous "Kingston Mines" blues club, one of the premier in the windy city´, is his home base. Although he is working hard the record business never was to gentle to him. His new CD is produced by himself and distributed by no large company. I had the luck to get a copy after one impressing concert in May 1996.
"Mean Case Of The Blues" is not so mean and hard-edged as I exepected, because the 1989's "Blues hang out" captured the toughness of his live perfomances perfectly. He added horns and a lot of keyboards (nice organ) to the most of the 10 tracks. On the title track and "Look what you done" harp virtuoso and "Son Of the Blues" Billy Branch can be heard. For the sweet and lovely "Love Being Loved By You" Clearwater arranged female background vocals, too.
On the whole record his truely mean guitar is not heard too much. I guess, that if for the most of his fans a little bit disappointing. Missing some guitar the vocals are heard very much in the front. He never sounded as soulful and heart-grabbing as here. His typically aggression he puts out on stage is not lost in all tunes. The autobiographical and funky "hard way to make an easy living" and the mellow "Don't take my blues" are powerful examples for that.
3 covers are included. Ollie Jones's "Send for me" and Ted Jarrett's "Make it if you try" are sweat pearls of 60s soul and I guess I everybody may like that stuff. Magic Sam's "Look what you done" is played with much passion, giving Branch space for some nice harp.
His own tunes are pleasing, too. Expecially "Party at my house" is a treat - the title of this boogie says it all. It could be a song like "Let the good times roll" is for B.B. King - just have yourself a ball. It's just what the matter of the most songs is, too. The positive message is represented more than the typically down and out moments.
That all makes the CD a joy for a wide range of listeners. You don't have to be a hardcore Clearwater or Chicago blues fan to like this good sounding and carefully arranged collection of authentic blues.

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