Memphis Rent Party: The Blues, Rock and Soul

If you want a feel for the low ceilinged smoky juke joints of Memphis, this cd that is a soundtrack to Robert Gordon’s book Memphis Rent Party is right up your noir alley. The sounds are rough, raw and gruff, but you get a front row seat to music from the other side of the tracks. Various artists, including Jerry Lee Lewis, are featured hill, with The Killer in vicious mood on a boogie-ing and rowdy fist pumper of “Harbor Lights.” Alex Hilton and the Randy Band do a rocky reggae of “Johnny Too Bad” while some loose late night smoky hazes are created on Jerry McGill’s “Desperados Waiting for a Train” and Junior Kimbrough on “All Night Long.” Groaning guitars whine on “Why Don’t You Come Home Blues” by Furry Lewis” and everyone moans on “Little Bluebird.” Make sure your hubcaps are still on your car tires when you leave these places!

 

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