John Mooney
Dealing With The Devil
(Ruf Records)
This live recording by John Mooney, recorded
straight through on one night, in Bremen (Germany?) according to the sparse liner notes,
may not be for the faint of heart. In fact, just the artwork and title alone may eliminate
some. However, for those looking for the real thing, you can find it here.
Stripped down to one guitarist/vocalist wailing, stompin', howlin' and playin' his butt
off throughout, this disc is as raw, live and real as any contemporary recording I've
heard in years. You'd swear there were two or three of him up there at times.
Outstanding cuts include the Mooney original "Broken Mold", "Junco
Partner" and "Country Boy". I am in awe of the latter performance. It's
mighty intense and really rattles my cage. Probably will yours, too, if you're still with
me this far into the review.
A concert favorite, "Sacred Ground" is presented here in its' early
incarnation, before its' release on the latest Mooney studio disc. Mooney is an excellent
slide player, as demonstrated throughout the disc, and an expressive singer from the old
school. I consider this disc an important part of my personal collection.
- J. Oblander -
Southwest Blues CD Review - March 1999
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