The Rockin' Johnny Band - Now's The Time

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2010
Time: 56:21 
Size: 132,4 MB 
Label: Self-Released 
Styles: Blues/Electric Blues/Chicago Blues  
Art: Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Pink Champagne - 3:39
 2. Now's The Time - 4:18
 3. Guess I'll Walk Alone - 3:08
 4. Hot Sauce - 3:42
 5. War Boy - 4:19
 6. I'm Gonna Built Me A Playhouse - 4:55
 7. Pico - 5:02
 8. Hippie Dance - 3:22
 9. Chicago Woman - 4:15
10. A Man And The Blues - 7:42
11. Little Red Rooster - 5:36
12. The Chaser - 2:35
13. Sweet Love - 3:42

The word near the beginning of 2009 that Rockin’ Johnny was re-emerging after a self-imposed hiatus lasting most of the previous decade was a major winter brightener. It was unfortunate that Johnny was back with his bluesman’s card punched after some heavy domestic dues. But he’s been a worthy part of the Chicago blues scene from the get-go, and all the more so as the famed and lesser-known greats whose flame he keeps continue to dwindle, so his return has been a boost all around. It was clear from the start of his comeback that his skills, passion and commitment are undiminished, and his sense of self and place are enhanced if anything. Johnny always brought talents of his own (including some that “the men don’t know, but the little girls understand”) along with the ability to capture the stylistic nuances of his inspirations, and his encyclopedic knowledge of the blues tradition has enabled him to put emphasis on the unsung heroes of the (mostly Chicago) scene as well as the icons. So for his welcome “I’m back!” CD, we get two covers by Shreveport master Jesse Thomas (filtered through Magic Sam for the title track), instrumentals from Bobby King, Lowell Fulson and Son Seals, a cover of one of Luther Tucker’s most obscure outings, a nod to Eddie Taylor’s take on “Pink Champagne,” a tribute to one of Johnny’s favorites Willie James Lyons (who was highly regarded by his west side peers), “Little Red Rooster” given the Little Smokey Smothers guitar treatment, a couple of seldom resurrected T-Bone Walker songs with vocals right out of a demented day at the lavish Atomic H studios added to one (“Hippie Dance”), and a live version of a Jimmy Dawkins/Wild Child Butler collaboration, along with one of Buddy Guy’s classic slow blues also perfected by Lurrie Bell. Johnny’s own soul and touch bring consistency to the program, along with his band of stalwarts. NOW’S THE TIME is a stirring reminder of what we missed during Johnny’s absence, and hopefully the start of a lot more good things to come! — Dick Shurman /Tracks 1-12: Guitar, Vc: Johnny Burgin. Rhythm Guitar: Rick Kreher. Drums: Rob Lorenz. Bass: John Sefner. Organ: Greg Sefner. Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Thundertone Audio by Mike Konopka, February 2010. Track 13: Drums: Kenny Smith. Bass: Sho Komiya. Recorded live at Blues on Halsted, August 2000 by Mike Konopka at Metro Mobile. Cover artwork by Mauge Design, Chicago. Sandwich Shop photo by Toni Maugeri./

Now's The Time