About Them Shoes

by

Hubert Sumlin

Edit

Hubert Sumlin is a star in his own rights having shared the spotlight as Howlin' Wolf's lead guitarist from 1956 to 1976. Sumlin's flashy guitar work has been credited with influencing the work of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Well along in years, some of the stars that he influenced return to help produce a great release to kick of 2005. The guests include Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and harpist Paul Oscher. The band also benefits from Muddy Waters guitarist Bob Margolin and David Maxwell on piano. The tunes are covers of songs written by Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. Everything about the CD is first rate.

THE highlight of the disc is the final track and the only one featuring Hubert on vocals - he does a wonderful acoustic guitar interplay with Keith on a self-penned tune. Interesting that this is the highlight - as the theme of the (rest of the) album is Muddy Waters tunes.

The only problem, per se, with the rest of the album is that it only makes you (at least, me) wanna play the originals....none of these even sniff the greatness of the Muddy originals. In that respect, it reminds me alot of Jimmy Rogers' final album, Blues Blues Blues...a fine album (and one that also features Keith -- and Mick -- on 3 tracks)...but nothing ground-breaking. Both nice listens.

Keith turns in a serviceable vocal on Still a Fool (but, really he's not much of a blues singer). Clapton probably comes off the best among the vocal performers (aside from Hubert). Other nice vocal contributions by Blondie Chaplin, David Johansen and others.

Hubert's leads steal the show, here, though. If you're expecting some wicked guitar from Keith, you'll be disappointed. He's here as a sideman on three tracks - nice, but nothing special.