This is one of the cornerstones of 1960’s Blues. Junior got to pick the players, pick the music, and make this record his way. That’s pretty remarkable considering this was his debut album.
I’d say it turned out okay.
Where Was Hoodoo Man Blues Recorded?
The album was recorded in Chicago, in the fall of 1965. It was on the legendary Delmark Records label with Bob Koester producing. Bob, of course, is legendary in his own right.
It only took a couple of days to produce and it turned out to be a big big seller for Delmark.
The album was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
“I hold up my hand, girl I’m just trying to make you understand
Well now, everybody tell me, somebody hoodoo’d the hoodoo man” ~ Junior Wells (“Hoodoo Man Blues”)
Harmonica Lesson
Junior dominates the album — with his harp and his voice.
His harmonica is the primary lead instrument on the album. He’s playing lead lines and rhythms — a real masterclass in harp playing.
It growls when Junior wants it to growl. It gets playful when Junior’s feeling playful. It’s always in Junior’s complete control. He was pretty much at the top of his game here. Giving all the other harp players something to shoot for.
Then there are the vocals.
Junior’s vocals have that rough and raw edge you’d expect to hear in the Chicago nightclubs around that time. They’re not pitch perfect but they have the perfect feeling for the material. There were no studio tricks to lay in or overdub in those days. So what you hear is just what the patrons at Theresa’s Lounge probably heard on the weekends.
But the studio adds better sonics and more clarity than those lounge performances. So you get to enjoy all of Junior’s emotion and sass in every lyric.
Who’s This “Friendly Chap” Who Played Guitar For Junior Wells?
When Junior was putting together the “Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band” for this album, he chose his friends. Friends he played with in the clubs each week. Friends who knew the tunes he wanted to track. Musicians he could count on like Billy Warren on drums and Jack Myers on bass.
For guitar, he chose Buddy Guy.
But Buddy was doing a lot of work across town at Chess Records you see. So in order to avoid (evade?) certain contractual conflicts, Buddy was listed on the album as “Friendly Chap.” I guess the lawyers were happy, but it had to have been one of the worst-kept secrets in the Chicago record business.
Buddy and Junior became sort of musically joined at the hip after that.
…Between the 1960’s and Junior’s death in 1998, Junior and Buddy collaborated on almost a dozen albums together. They also performed together many times in the U.S. and in Europe.
The Genius Of ‘Hoodoo Man Blues’
No one knew when they recorded it that this would become one of the greatest Chicago Blues albums of all time.
They were just trying to make a record a little differently than the rest.
This was straight Blues — no chaser. In fact, all but one of the tunes is in the classic 12-bar Blues structure (“You Don’t Love Me Baby”). No one really knew if Junior’s music, presented in this way, would have any commercial appeal. But it did.
The guitar, taking a back seat to the harmonica on much of the album, was a little risky too. But Buddy found his space and had some wonderful musical ideas. He plays so delicately sometimes, you’d think he was playing with a feather, not a pick.
In the end though — with the harmonica, the vocals, the writing & arranging — there’s no doubt that this album was 100% Junior Wells. The album stands the test of time because it’s such a precise snapshot of the man and his music.
And a time machine for folks like me.
Preview ‘Hoodoo Man Blues’
…You can find some excellent quality vinyl versions of ‘Hoodoo Man Blues’ on Discogs.com. Check them out H E R E!
Thanks for reading!
Jon Beres
I’m one part Blues Fan and one part Digital Native (with a dash of Curmudgeon.) I’m also the publisher of AlltheWayBlue.com. If you love the Blues, I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine - cheers!
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