onurblues: Lurrie Bell - Let's Talk About Love (2007)

December 03, 2022

Lurrie Bell - Let's Talk About Love (2007)

► Get the album at the usual place...

For whom Lurrie Bell toll

Although his life had been marked by dramatic and addictive tribulations, the survivor's character of Lurrie Bell led him to record a fine album for his comeback after years of silence : a pretty nice collection of twelve West Side Chicago blues of the tastiest kind.

The repertoire, all chosen from famous bluesmen from the Windy City like the legendary Willie Dixon, Pops Staples, J.B. Lenoir, Hip Linkchain, Andrew Brown, Little Richard…, is expressing Bell's sorrow, particularly after the untimely passing, in January 2007, of his beloved companion, photographer and artist Susan Greenberg whose caring help in Bell's recovery off his severe addictions was so essential, and just a few months later, in May 2007, of his father, the great blues harmonicist Carey Bell.

The band gathered for the project includes solid veteran sidemen from Chicago like Billy Branch and Matthew Skoller on harmonica, Sidney James Winfield on keyboards, Anthony Palmer on rhythm guitar, Felton Crews on bass, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums, and a little help from a friend, Jimmy Johnson, on backing vocals on one track. Bell's sharp economical guitar is as appealing as ever, his voice is powerful and warm at the same time, and his singing is faultless.

Pops Staples' “Why (Am I Treated So Bad)” is rolling in a swampy mood. The acoustic version of J.B. Lenoir's “Feeling Good” reminds the Mississippi roots of Lurrie's late father.

“Missing You”, a Billy Flynn song, is undoubtedly dedicated to both Susan and Carey, as is Littlle Richard's soul title “Directly From My Heart To You”, featuring a heartfelt solo from Bell in the best Chicago tradition. Hip Linkchain's “Cold Chills” is delivered in a rocking version with another fine Chicago style solo.

The prolific Willie Dixon's typical sound and rhythm can immediately be recognized, particularly in “Earthquake And Hurricane” (same rolling tempo as in “Spoonful”) with top harmonica by Billy Branch, and in “Chicago Is Loaded With The Blues”. Both songs are among the highlights of the album.

The rocking “My Dog Can't Bark” from Otis Smothers is carried by an irresistible background guitar riff while the soulful “Turn To Me” (Larry Skoller) is your typical Chicago straight slow blues.

Finally “Wine Head Woman” (Willie Williams) closes the album in a barrel-house touch driven by Winfield's piano and Skoller's harmonica.

All along, Bell's warm soulful voice is perfectly fitting the songs he carefully chose and he hasn't lost a bit of his very appealing guitar mastery with a subtle no show-off but efficient style. Classic contemporary Chicago blues at its best ! ■

► Live videos... are better than long speeches

Lurrie & Carey Bell

► The concerts

Father & son (Carey & Lurrie Bell) :
→ American Folk Blues Festival, Germany, 1982 : https://youtu.be/dzIixtNFQT8
→ Rosa's, Chicago : https://youtu.be/WtxO9ZALQ9w

Lurrie Bell

● Maxwell Street, Chicago, mid-1990s : https://youtu.be/pTrYtUJg01Q

● Legend's, Chicago, 1990-2000s : https://youtu.be/j8uYGBpCXzQ

● RawBluesTV Special, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1999 : https://youtu.be/dbbSCF7gZkk?t=176

● Banana Peel, Belgium, 2005 : https://youtu.be/PpMuksAYgyM