The Come Back
The great Memphis Slim recorded extensively throughout his long and illustrious career, but as stated in Dick Shurman's excellent liner notes, the sessions he made for the United label in the early 1950's are undoubtedly his finest. Delmark continues to marvelously reissue the output of this important Chicago independent with Memphis Slim'sThe Come Back, a collection of classic postwar Chicago blues from a master blues piano player and singer. The set also features some of guitarist's Matt 'Guitar' Murphy's most electrifying guitar work as well, including his first ever vocal performance on record, the slow blues scorcherCool Down Baby.The Come Back, coupled with Delmark's previous issue of the equally remarkableMemphis Slim U.S.A., which features the rest of his United material, beautifully captures both Memphis Slim and Matt 'Guitar' Murphy at the height of their creative powers. --Gene Tomko, Blues NetWhile his prolificacy might have diminished the cachet of his recorded legacy for some, Memphis Slim remains a legend. His best sides - in particular, his 1950s work with Matt 'Guitar' Murphy - are timeless piano blues. Delmark has opened the vaults to make available on CD Slim's earliest sessions for the United label, along with alternate takes and other material. OnThe Come BackSlim's performance, the band, and the material come together in that magical way that cannot be planned. On all these sides, Murphy's inventive, edgy guitar perfectly balances Slim's sophisticated vocal approach and excellent piano...an important historical document as well as just plain great '50's blues. --Tom Hyslop, Blues RevueMemphis Slim U.S.A.has been the cornerstone of my Memphis Slim collection since it was issued, now Delmark has capped it with this carefully chosen twenty-tracker. What is here is the sixteen recordings from Slim's United sessions of 1952 and '53, plus two alternative takes and two auditions. Present throughout is Slim's 'damn genius', Matt 'Guitar' Murphy. Most of the songs will be known to long-standing Slim fans in one form or another but here he is in particularly good form and is obviously enjoying himself - with the predictable result that the whole of the two sessions are an unqualified success. So now there are two cornerstones. --Keith Briggs, Blues & Rhythm