March 01, 2024

Portrait : John “Juke” Logan (1946-2013)




Rockin' the blues
Three albums and a live with Doug MacLeod, that's about it, but enough to get a hell of a foot-stomping time. Three albums that rock, swing, boogie by a jack of all blues trades who unravels and revamps the blues with a rockin' heart, injecting different styles he feels like. But make it clear, it's not blues-rock.
This brilliant chameleon from South California (1) who was a real and respected blues connoisseur could put a J.J. Cale touch here, a Zydeco or New Orleans carnival beat there, a Latin feel a la Los Lobos (he was a good friend of David Hidalgo) or a bit of soul, always with a sharp sense of tasty exciting arrangements and generally a good dose of humor in his songwriting.



Backing Bo Diddley
Logan and his harmonica worked with an array of various talented musicians for whom he wrote lots of material, from Leon Russel, John Mayall, Dave Alvin or Gary Primich to Dobie Gray, Etta James and Percy Sledge to mention just a few.
With Ry Cooder
He also composed and played harmonica on TV series (“Roseanne”, “Home Improvement”) and movies soundtracks ("La Bamba", "Midnight Run",, "Heathers", and notably “Streets of Fire” and “Crossroads” with Ry Cooder). His harmonica could even be heard on some commercials.
During the 1990's, for a decade, he co-hosted with Ellen Bloom the famous weekly radio show "Friday Nite Blues Revue" broadcast by a Los Angeles radio.
All that time he guested on numerous albums from artists such as Richard Marx, the Carla Olson-Mick Taylor Band, John Lee Hooker, Doug MacLeod, Sugar Ray Norcia, Heather Myles, Adam Sandler, Barry Goldberg, among others...
He was just over 40 when he recorded a first collection of songs released on cassette at the time : ...Let's Buzz (1987). I couldn't listen to it because it is impossible to find anywhere, so I won't go further about it.

The Chill (1993), re-issued in 1995 with two additional tracks as The Chill (Re-Chilled), is a real foot-stomper. Logan, who wrote or co-wrote all the tracks, is on lead vocals and harmonica, and on piano or organ on about seven titles.
What strikes first is the sound, result of Logan's shrewd work on the arrangements and on the mixing deck with his sound engineers. And of course the unity of this sound though the album takes us in various directions of the blues : funk on the opening “Dig Ta' China” and “Play Tha' Blues”, Latin a-la-Bamba-style on “She's Cool People”, rock'n'roll (“We Got Ta' Rock”, ”Fan The Flames”), ska/reggae (”She Stone Me”),
With Junior Watson
 Zydeco rock (the outstanding "Rumblin' Reeds"), jazzy (the excellent “Hustler”, originally written for Gary Primich), solid Texas countrified blues (“The Long Low Ride”, sung in duet with the band's fine guitarist Brenda Burns, “Young & Wired”), New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians music (“Bayou Diamond Ring”), heavy blues (“If The Money's All Right”, “Soul Stroll”), swinging blues (the title track “'The Chill”, “Tend to My Bid'ness”), boogie rock (“Mello C”).
Somewhere it reminds me the approach of David Lindley on his exciting 1988 album “Very Greasy”.
David Hidalgo from Los Lobos
For this impressive effort, Logan invited respected guest guitarists Denny Freeman (“We Got Ta' Rock”, “Fan The Flames”), Junior Watson (“Play Tha' Blues”, “Hustler”), Rick Holmstrom (“Tend To My Bid'ness”) and most of all his Los Lobos buddy David Hidalgo, sometimes accompanied by Los Lobos' bassman Conrad Lozano, for a few guitar solos, as well as accordion on "Rumblin' Reeds". And among the backing vocalists appear here and there Janiva Magness…
Don't be mistaken, these guests all keep at the service of Logan's words and music.
This first CD release, without any low tempo tracks, is a highly rejoicing work of stretching the blues in new directions, and Logan, quite an interesting innovative musician.

Sometimes later, he decided to create his own label, Mocombo Records, that will release all his next albums. The best way to preserve his musical freedom.

Juke Rhythm (1998) opens with a hypnotic riff that will inflame any fan of James Brown in his “Sex Machine” period : the funky R'n'B “Love Me Like That” (repeated in a different mix in the final hidden track), a humorous song about Shakespeare's archetypal characters Romeo & Juliet. He then switches to a jazzy Santana-inspired beat on “Dancin' On The Edge Of The Razorblade”, before getting back to jump blues with a series of irresistible grooving tracks : “I Don't Know What I Want (But I Want It Now)”, “Life On The Center Divider (Go Figure)”, featuring guitarist Brenda Burns on not so backing vocals, “Comb The Streets”, the rap-injected “Da' Blues Hip Hop”, “What's It Gonna' Be” and its swamp feel given by the rhythm guitar's reverb and Logan's harmonica, and “Juke's Twist Palace”.
Brenda Burns
The vibraphone-like sound on the very J.J. Calesque “Lone Wolf” illustrates Logan's tasty ideas as an arranger. Most of the songs have such a little detail that makes the difference. J.J. Cale's spirit is nor far either on the humorously titled “Don't Let Your Mouth Write A Check (That Your Butt Can't Cash)”.
Gary Primich & Juke Logan
After the harmonica duel between Logan and Gary Primich on “Twice Pipes” comes the outstanding “The Real Feel”, an energetic hip-hop spiced funk that James Brown wouldn't look down at all, certainly the hottest moment of the album
Finally the jazzy accents of the piano and harmonica instrumental “Lonely Freedom” bring a moment of freshness before the hidden second take of the opening “Love Me Like That” subtitled “Primative Mix”.
Five years after his first CD, Logan hasn't lost any of his energy and gift for catchy beats.

Live As It Gets (1999). The cover writes “John 'Juke' Logan & Doug MacLeod”, but honestly it should be something like “Doug MacLeod featuring John 'Juke' Logan”. (2) Nine out of the 12 songs bear MacLeod's signature (against two for Logan, plus one credited to 1950s R'n'B singer Tommy Brown), he's doing most of the up-front singing, most of the banter to introduce the titles and half the boot stomp.
This being cleared up, it is quite an enjoyable show, full of good acoustic blues, fun and laughter, almost in a relaxed family atmosphere. MacLeod's Delta style dobro guitar sounds deep and clear, Logan is amazingly nimble with his harp, and both man share a happy moment of complicity delivering mischievous and humorous songs like “Doola”, “Tight White Pants”, “Doug's First Protest Song”, “Grease In My Gravy” and “High Priced Woman”, or  superb soulful pieces of vintage slide guitar and harmonica Delta blues like “Chill On Cold” and “Cold Rain”.

Recorded in Austin, The Truth Will Rock You (2005) sees Logan taking a serious glimpse towards the rocking side of Texas blues surrounded by a solid casting of fine musicians. It's clear from the opener, “I Do Alright”, introduced by a sampling of Albert Collins' voice (“Oh Yeah”), and confirmed on the following track, the outstanding properly titled countrified killer “The Truth Will Rock You” carried by a ruthless rhythm section.
The mixing by Glenn Nishida and Logan himself is top-notch and the sound hits you right in the guts. No less than seven six-string masters are featured on the 14 tracks of the album (15 if including the final “mysterioso bonus”), along with three bassists and three drummers and percussionists, and a small army of backing or co-vocalists (2). As for the songs, all of them were written by Logan (two in collaboration).
Glenn Nishida
The whole album rocks and swings the Texas way, mixing blues and rock'n'roll  and offering a rejoicing collection of solid beat tracks (“Designated Drinker”, “Up Love Creek”, “Sound Of Money Talkin'”), rocking blues (“Strike While The Iron Is Hot”, “Ask Any Dawg In Town”, “Unibomber Of Love”, the excellent “Walkin' With LeRoi”), retro jazzy swing blues (the outstanding “Rockin' Like A Wild Child”), laid-back style (“Drive-By Love”), J.J. Cale-like mood (“Instant Enemies”, and to a lesser extend “Miracle Worker”), without forgetting a welcome foray in Nola music with the swaying “Show Me Somethin' Sista” after a peculiar intro.
L to R : Hodges, Holmstrom & Logan
Logan's vocals and harmonica stand at a peak, and the groove floods the whole album, probably his best, and leaves you wondering sadly about the exciting work Logan could have recorded next if cancer hadn't killed him in 2013.
Only consolation, his work on the album Twist-O-Lettz recorded in 2010 with guitarist Rick Holmstrom & percussionist-composer Stephen Hodges... ■

(1) About John 'Juke' Logan
→ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_%22Juke%22_Logan (Custom Blues For You mentioned in the Discography is in fact a 8-track sampler from Logan's Mocombo label),
→ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-juke-logan-mn0000808294#biography
→ https://www.last.fm/music/John+%22Juke%22+Logan/+wiki


(2) Three Doug MacLeod's albums : reviews
Logan & MacLeod

(3) The Truth Will Rock You : the line-up 
Johnny Moeller
John 'Juke' Logan : vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion.
Gary Primich : harmony harmonica, guitar, backing vocals.
Guitar : Chris Miller, Dave Biller, Johnny Moeller, Nick Curran, Denny Freeman (also on 6 string bass), Casper Rawls and Steve Doerr both from the LeRoi Brothers band.
Bass : Pat Collins (LeRoi Brothers), Sarah Brown, Randy Glines.
Drums : Mike Buck and Jim Starboard.
Percussions : Michael Tempo.
Backing vocals : Stephanie Riggio, Glenn 'Señor Sol' Nishida, Ted Roddy, Tina Rosenzweig, Brenda & Rebecca Burns.
And the voices of Albert Collins, Frank Frost and John Price.


Full Albums (Audio)
► The Chill (Re-Chilled) (1993/95) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l41CAmjcvq-mZ8wHw44DLGe_P6mAyCRSE
► Juke Rhythm (1998) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mUb4Qmjtc2lz2N8C1odBOkjhcn3nyfOs
► Live As It Gets, with Doug MacLeod (1999) : https://youtu.be/LbUsZLM2pwY
► The Truth Will Rock You (2005) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mtex1YgI-0w6QjyGPRz3n2kVG6gPbK06U
Also :
► Twist-O-Lettz, with Rick Holmstrom & Stephen Hodges (2010) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mdxVzuvDukMI4ydodWnP_oaSKq2lIfhQc
And :
Bonus : John "Juke" Logan & The Chill Aces with Brenda Burns live at the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, 1995 : https://youtu.be/4R-9ogzNV-M (feat, a bio presentation text underneath the video)

Live Videos
With Dave Alvin, Willie Dixon,
and Willie's grandson Alex Dixon
I was quite surprised to find so few videos of Logan live and most of them of such poor quality. Here are the few decent ones I could put my mouse on...

► Crazy Jack's, Burbank, CA, 2000 : https://youtu.be/u04eBimrsw4
► Pappy and Harriet's, Pioneer Town, CA, 2008 :
→ “The Truth Will Rock You” : https://youtu.be/CWGwCe-1Y2s
→ “Hey Baby” : https://youtu.be/Zn4DRNGMvqM
With Rick Holmstrom (left)
and Jeff Turmes, 2004

► With Doug MacLeod, Maui Sugar Mill Saloon, Tarzana, CA, 2010 : https://youtu.be/ZZhdwHcj5zE
► Telling a story about his early days on the blues scene to drummer Stephen Hodges during the recording of “Twist-O-Lettz”, 2010 : https://youtu.be/BH4lRSkXYdM
With Kid Ramos (left)

► “Drive-By Love”, Austin, TX, 2011 : https://youtu.be/5Zxcc6TZdYg
► With the Ted Quinn Instant Band, Joshua Tree Memorial Park, CA, Memorial Day 2012 : https://youtu.be/hoPYlUM1IGA
► “Nosy Neighbors” jam, Logan's last birthday party in his Joshua Tree home with friends in September 2012 (excerpt from a tribute documentary about Juke Logan) : https://youtu.be/cB_TQojU5LM

Logan's house in Joshua Tree, CA

John "Juke" Logan, 1946-2013

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