Too Many Cooks
The contemporary blues bannerman's recording debut (originally released asWho's Been Talkin'in 1980), while naturally not as strong as his later work (especiallyBad Influence, released five years later), is the work of an extremely promising artist. The album is an appealing mix of standards (Willie Dixon's "Too Many Cooks,"Howlin' Wolf's "Who's Been Talkin',"O.V. Wright's "I'm Gonna Forget About You," among others) and originals. Among the strongest of the latter are the slow blues "I'd Rather Be a Wino" and the closing number, "If You're Thinkin' What I'm Thinkin'," which contains the flavorful mix of tight rhythms, excellent guitar work, strong vocals, and bittersweet mood that would become Cray's hallmark.--Genevieve Williams