Chris Thomas King
Red Mud
(Black Top BT-1148)
Chris Thomas King's debut CD for Black Top
Records is a great example of understatement and undercurrent. Mainly an acoustic album,
the currents of King's heritage in Louisiana come to the surface of his music in a
forceful and evocative manner. Red Mud is a combination of nine King originals and five
well chosen covers that blend to create a fabric with a pattern of old and new, dark and
light. The CD opens with the title song, "Red Mud". Written by King, it tells of
love and uncertainty, where lovers kill lovers and are found "face down in red
mud". "Red Mud" is a haunting and memorable tune. King shows his acoustic
chops on "Soon This Morning Blues", a good boogie number and "I'm On
Fire". King also does fine work on the National steel guitar on "Dark
Cloud", and "If It Ain't One Thang, It's Two". Both are Chris Thomas King
originals and evoke sounds from the Delta. "Alive" is a surprise in the middle
of the CD. Easily the darkest song of the set, "Alive" is a mellow
sing/speak/rap story of life, danger and apathy in the city. With light string
arrangements, this could be a nod to future stylings for Chris Thomas King. "Wanna
Die With A Smile On My Face" is also a slight departure. A celebration of love, it is
an upbeat catchy tune. "Raining Angels" is a beautiful acoustic spiritual to end
the CD. In addition to the fine originals, two Robert Johnson songs, "Come On in My
Kitchen" and "Ramblin' on My Mind" are covered well. He also includes an
emotional version of Son House's "Death Letter Blues" where he really cuts his
voice loose. King includes two songs of his father's, Louisiana bluesman Tabby Thomas.
With Tabby Thomas on vocals, "Hoodoo Party" gets a fresh take and sounds great.
On "Bus Station Blues", father and son get down and jam the blues together.
Hammond Scott and Chris Thomas King produced this CD with a low key acoustic sound. Some
songs sound like he's right in the room with you. Darryl White provides very tasteful and
restrained drums and percussion. King plays all of the other instruments. Most of the
songs are very understated with minimal arrangements. But this only allows King to show
his emotional singing and playing. Chris Thomas King comes from a deep blues heritage in
Louisiana that comes through strong on this CD. This is an artist who has created a solid
work with an eye to the past and a foot in the future. Red Mud is a work of quiet force.
- Pete Barbeck -
Southwest Blues CD Review - February 1999
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