Brooks, Hunter & Walker
Lone Star Shootout
(Alligator 4866)
It has been over 40 years
since Lonnie Brooks, Long John Hunter, Phillip Walker and Ervin Charles
were learning their guitar grooves in the Golden Triangle area of
southeast Texas. These four were the guitarists of choice to see in the
late 50s for the blues and swamp funk sound that evolved in the
Texas/Louisiana border region. The years saw Lonnie Brooks go on to
success in Chicago. Long John Hunter went to Juarez, Mexico, for 17 years
and, finally, to commercial success in the 1990s. Phillip Walker, after
spending two years in Juarez with Hunter, went to L.A. where he
established his own particular California-based Texas sound. For the most
part Ervin Charles stayed home, continuing to play and nurture other
players, such as Johnny Winter, in the region. At long last, the four old
friends got back together and celebrated. The result of the celebration is
the new Alligator CD Lone Star Shootout. With the help of some other
friends such as Marcia Ball, Derek O'Brien and Kaz Kazanoff, the
celebration produced a solid 15-song CD.
There are numerous, fun deep
covers that are brought to new life on this collection. "Bon Ton
Roulet" is a lively take on the regional classic. "It's Mighty
Crazy" was performed by both Lightnin' Slim and Hopkins. "Two
Trains Running" was a song that was required to be played numerous
times each night back in the 50s, redone here with as much vitality as the
dancers expected way back when. The surprise song is "I Can't Stand
It No More," written by Eskew Reeder, the man who was the role model
for Little Richard. It is not easy putting such talented performers
together in a studio and to expect more than clashing egos and fights over
who gets the most leads. But Alligator Records put together four old
friends who were just happy to share some time and music together and
produce a recording of which to be proud.
- Scott Ferman -
Southwest Blues CD Review - August 1999
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