CD Reviews

Longtime Friends In The Blues

Tail Dragger & Bob Corritore

Delta Groove Records

If you’re a true-blooded fan of authentic Chicago blues, this new release by Tail Dragger and Bob Corritore is right up your alley. Especially if it’s a dark, gritty to the bone alley that you can only find in inner city streets that a blues soundtrack would be most appropriately fitting. This is that soundtrack. With greasy vocals supplied by Tail Dragger that harkens back to your favorite Chicago singers like Howlin’ Wolf or Muddy Waters, they’re frightening and just oozing full of a lifetime of hardships that makes them so real. Backed by his longtime friend (as the title refers) harmonica master Bob Corritore, who may live nowadays in Phoenix, but has never lost that feel for the Windy City’s sound, this is one of the finest Chicago blues recordings to hit the market in years. And since this is a Delta Groove CD, you know that the label has thrown together a fine mesh of sidemen to compliment them every step of the way. And what sidemen! You just would be hard-pressed to find any finer than Kirk Fletcher and Chris James on guitar, Patrick Rynn on bass, Brian Fahey on drums and special guest Henry Gray throwing down fantastic keys and vocals on one track.

Tail Dragger is credited with penning all but one song on this disc, under his given name James Yancey Jones. They all follow common themes you’ve heard hundreds of times in the blues, but finding somebody who makes that raw sound come so naturally is rather rare in this day and age and is very welcome. Not that Tail Dragger has not been around for some time, as he has a nice collection of recordings on his resume. The only song not written by Tail Dragger is УSugar Mama,Ф the Sonny boy Williamson classic covered by so many artists.

Bob Corritore has certainly been in the limelight over the past few years, with Blues Music Awards nominations for his work with guitarist Dave Riley and taking home the award last year for his historical compilation of recordings from his Phoenix club The Rhythm Room where he plays alongside stellar blues greats over the years titled Harmonica Blues. Corritore is simply one of the finest harp players on the scene today that needs to have more attention thrown his way.

Longtime Friends In The Blues is a must own for Chicago blues fans. As stated, you just will not find anything more authentic or raw than this out there today. Incredibly appealing and just down right sensational. It just doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to traditional blues.

Total Time: 53:59

I’m Worried / Sugar Mama / Birthday Blues / She’s Worryin’ Me / Cold Outdoors / So Ezee / Through With You / Done Got Old / Boogie Woogie Ball / Please Mr. Jailer