CD Reviews

"Live At The Jolly Roger Roadhouse"

Various Artists

Criminal Records Northwest

Got to say right off, I’m so glad that Criminal Records is back. One of the premier labels in its time of putting out the very best in blues music in the Northwest. Their first outing was this last summer’s DVD release of Portland Mojo: How Stumptown Got The Blues, telling the story of Portland’s blues tradition. Now they are starting to re-release some of those amazing recordings that have long been out of print; for the first time ever on CD. And how fitting it is that one of the first discs to be revived is Live At The Jolly Roger Roadhouse, a true Northwest classic.

The Jolly Roger Roadhouse was located in Seattle and during its tenure was a home to the very best musicians from the Northwest and beyond. It was the place to hear the blues in Seattle. But alas, it is long gone. Destroyed by a mysterious fire many years ago. But the memories built there will last forever, especially those magical nights in February 1984 when the tracks for this album were laid down.

It is in those five incredible nights that four of the Northwest’s absolute best were captured. One act, In Yo’ Face featured two musicians who still rule the roost in this part of the country today, Curtis Salgado and Lloyd Jones. Two numbers are featured on the album, with each artist taking the vocal lead on one apiece and driving their talent home. The other three acts were all led by legendary local artists unfortunately no longer with us. Seattle’s king of the blues Isaac Scott was always a wonder to behold and earned his title in the Emerald City well. Tom McFarland spent time in a number of cities from Portland to Seattle to San Francisco and Spokane. Tom’s another outstanding guitarist who deserved much more recognition than received. Then there was Paul deLay. If Isaac Scott ruled Seattle, deLay was the master of the entire region. The selections with deLay are all wonderful, with perhaps the old Muddy Waters’ standard “Tiger In Your Tank” really setting fire to the entire album.

Anybody who knows the Northwest blues scene probably has this old album stashed away with their LPs, wishing it were on CD so they can hear it more often. Now it is on CD and it should be considered mandatory for all blues fans. This is history people! And it’s the type you want to relive. Can’t wait for more re-releases from the Criminal Records Northwest archives and those lost treasures they’ll be bringing out that never saw the light of day before. Hurray for blues lovers everywhere!

Total Time: 43:34

Wrapped Up In Love / Same Old Blues / I Don’t Know / Doghouse Blues / I Am A Witness / Nothing To Go On / Tiger In Your Tank / Who’ll Be The Next / Crying Won’t Help You / I Got To Find A Way