Right to Sing the Blues
He'll always be the king of boogie-woogie, but this class package is just what's needed to establish Long John Baldry as a bluesman who only gets better with age. Aside from a few electric guitar runs by Papa John King and (on the title track) Colin James, Baldry is showcased in elegant, traditionally oriented settings that highlight his growling vocals and great taste in repertoire (Leroy Carr's sultry "Midnight Hour Blues," King's spooky "You're the One").--Jeff Bateman