A Few From Joe Louis Walker
Reviews by Barry Keller 03/06

Joe Louis Walker is a bona fide California 49er, born in San Francisco in 1949, one hundred years after the gold rush, on Christmas Day. As a teenager playing guitar in the City, he was introduced by Mike Bloomfield to the local blues scene, which of course overlapped with the "San Francisco Sound". Joe roomed with Mike, eventually burned out on the notorious over-the-top scene, went to gospel, stayed alive, and is back in the blues! Unique roots!

Joe is a facile and creative guitar player and as a singer has a “down-home” phrasing reminiscent of Otis Redding. Here on the central coast, he played a Victoria Hall show a few years back and also played at Avila Blues festival 2 years ago, backed by Debbie Davies band (Debbie says, “Joe is at the top of his game, and as always, one of my favs.”).

At the Vic show, Joe played a song called I ain't messin' around … with a fool like you. To this reviewer, that song, as played that night, was the pure “ freight train boogie ” – you know, that “CHUGGA CHUGGA WOO-OO” rhythm (f'rinstance, Little Richard said Lucille was a freight train song!). The same song on record however, on The Preacher and the President CD (1998), had a sound that was not as full and it didn't have the punch of the live show. The rest of that CD, while interesting, also seemed weak compared to the live shows.

Joe has 3 newer US CD releases, so those are reviewed here to see how he is doing more recently on digital plastic. The 3 CDs are varied in terms of instrumentation and arrangements, so Joe is clearly capable of moving in different musical directions. A fair number of the songs are mid-tempo blues, stitched together with tasty guitar breaks, with lyrics along the lines of either “Oh baby our love done gone wrong”, or “Oh baby our love so fine.” A few exceptions as far as lyrics go include the social commentary of The Preacher and the President on the older CD and a couple of straight gospel numbers on the newer ones.

 
Pasa Tiempo
Sample Tracks
1. Sweet Thing
2. Direct Me
3. Barcelona
4. I've Got Your Love
5. Love Like Blood
6. Pasa Tiempo
7. You Get What You Give
8. You Can't Sit Down
   Pasa Tiempo
Joe Louis Walker
October 2002
Evidence Records
Reviewed by Barry Keller March 2006

Pasa Tiempo (2002) features a very interesting line-up of musicians, and the first sound heard is the trumpet of Wallace Roney. Roney is featured on several numbers, with the sax of Ernie Watts on a couple. Some tunes sound like extended bluesy jazz riffs - some tasty listening. Also on the CD is veteran keyboard player Barry Goldberg, who played on Charlie Musselwhite's first record and was in the 60s Electric Flag band with Bloomfield. Several other musicians sit in on individual cuts.

 
In The Morning
Sample Tracks
1. You're Just About To Lose
            Your Clown
2. In The Morning
3. Joe's Jump
4. Leave That Girl Alone
5. Where Jesus Leads
6. Strange Loving
7. Do You Wanna Be With Me?
8. If This Is Love
            (I'd Rather Have The Blues)
9. 2120 South Michigan Avenue
10. Strangers In Our House
   In The Morning
Joe Louis Walker
July 2002
Telarc Records
Reviewed by Barry Keller March 2006

In The Morning (2002) is a more standard blues band line-up: two guitars, bass, drums, back-up vocals. This one delivers a “real-deal” freight train boogie, called Joe's Jump , so this reviewer found what he had been looking for. There are a couple of other notable up-tempo tunes, including If This Is Love (I'd rather have the Blues). There is also a rollicking version of 2120 South Michigan Avenue, credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. This tune is one of the few-ever Rolling Stones instrumental cuts, and is credited on the Stones' 12X5 (1964) to Nanker Phelge, a code name for the whole band (google it!). The name of this song is from the address of the legendary Chess studio in Chicago. It rocks!

New Direction
Sample Tracks
1. Do You Love Me
2. Custom Cars, Fast Guitars
3. Messed My Mind Up
4. New Direction
5. You Don't Love Me Girl
6. Tempting Me
7. Soldier For Jesus
8. Mr. G's Boogie
9. Ain't That Cold
10. Lena
  New Direction
Joe Louis Walker
September 2004
Blues Bureau International
Reviewed by Barry Keller March 2006

New Direction (2004) also has a simple line-up: Joe on guitars, plus bass, drum, some keyboard. The CD title is the name of one song, but musically this is pretty much the same direction - still a good one and with a crisp, tight sound. Favorites included Joe's apparent ode to the car culture in Custom Cars, Gibson Guitars (“Cruise the Blues”), a jumpin' bible-thumper called Soldier for Jesus, and a long, cookin' piano solo by Ellis Blacknell, Jr., on Mr. G's Boogie.


These morsels should whet the appetite and keep us looking forward to the next time Joe Louis Walker plays in our area.


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