Blues
When Billy Branch appeared with three of his elders--James Cotton, Junior Wells, and Carey Bell--on the 1991 album Harp Attack, it was a sign he had finally emerged as a major Chicago blues-harmonica player, one who had added jazz and R&B touches to the blues fundamentals learned from his mentors. Branch's first solo album, The Blues Keep Following Me Around, captures his modern vision of the Chicago blues in the most persuasive terms possible. The album separates itself from the usual parade of blues releases by the high quality of the songwriting and playing and by the boldness with which Branch stretches the blues form rhythmically and harmonically without breaking it.
By Geoffrey Himes.
**
A sensational record this "The Blues keep following me around" of the considered as one of the better current harp-player with a very good voice too, formed in the Chicago Blues school, among the finest of the emerging masters of the blues artists and are destined to carry the music into the 21st Century. This record carries the worthy contribution of the famous guitarist Carl Weathersby, a really competent rhythmic band with a magnificent David Torkanowsky's piano-work and has excellent themes therefore in conclusion is a marvelous record.
While the songs all of them have a high level so what I will say about one song applies to all of them but I'd like to make a distinction in some themes as the slow version of "If heartaches were nickels" (also Kenny Neal another luminary performs a great version in his HOODOO MOON's LP), the sophisticated, catchy "You" with a fantastic blend of Soul, Blues, Rap and Rock with stellar Branch's harp-work and an Carl's guitar-work slick and crafty as always, the spectacular and superb Weathersby's "The Blues follow me around" in the tradition of Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on my trail" a jewel, another Weathersby original "Should have been gone" traditional Blues in the grand Jimmy Reed tradition, a competent Howling Wolf's "Evil" cover where Wolf's voice is perfectly emulated by Branch's voice and to end the magnificient jumping rocking shuffle "Where's my money".
By Jose Maria Domenech Fedi.
**
Branch and Carl Weathersby ventured down to Maurice, LA, to cut this impressive disc with a home-grown rhythm section, but only Branch's name appears on its front. Certainly the harpist is the star of the show, growling covers of dusties by Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon, and Howlin' Wolf. Nevertheless, guitarist Weathersby provides two of the set's highlights, passionately singing his own "Should Have Been Gone" and "Should Have Known Better."
By Bill Dahl, All Music Guide.
**
Billy Branch- (Harmonica Vocals),
David Torkanowsky- (Piano, Organ Hammond),
Kerry Brown- (Drums),
Steve Howard- (Trumpet),
Jon Smith- (Tenor Sax),
Ward Smith- (Tenor Sax),
Carl Weathersby- (Guitar Vocals),
Legendary White Trash- Horns (Horn),
Cal Arnold- (Bass)
**
01. Bring It On Home
02. Grown Men Cry
03. Polk Salad Annie
04. If Heartaches Were Nickels
05. You
06. The Blues Follow Me Around
07. Flamin' Mamie
08. Should Have Been Gone
09. Should Have Known Better
10. Evil
11. Where's My Money
**
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