Eddie King

King's recorded output is slight bordering on criminal, so these 12 tracks from the West Side Chicago bluesman are a welcome addition to his scant discography indeed. King sports a strong, gospel-tinged voice and a nasty, thick-toned guitar style that never grates, and both are well served here. Featuring the Blues Brothers-plus horn section of Birch "Slide" Johnson, Alan Rubin, and "Blue" Lou Marini, abetted by Ronnie Cuber on baritone saxophone, the originals veer between soul and straight blues with "Kitty Kat," "Walk Right On In," "How Long Are You Going to Be Gone," "Pocketful of Blues, "Never Loved a Woman" and the set closer "Hey Mr. Bluesman." The covers mine the same genre turf with Luther Ingram's "If Lovin' Is Wrong," Albert King's "Angel Of Mercy," Eddy Giles' "Losin' Boy" and Elmore James' "Yonders Wall" being notable highlights. This album just makes you want to hear more from this highly overlooked artist. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide