Although not a marquee superstar like
Muddy Waters and
Howlin' Wolf, or even a cult favorite like
Magic Sam, Homesick James Williamson has nevertheless forged an impressive career spanning better than eight decades. Unlike a lot of his more prolific contemporaries, Williamson hasn't had a slew of titles released by numerous labels, making the task of finding a Homesick James album (new or used) a daunting search for excellence. On the other hand, since Williamson's hitmaking days were during the '50s, when a label does release one of the artist's latter-day recordings, it's usually a welcome labor of love. Such is the case with
Got to Move, an album literally rescued from the dustbin of history and digitally restored for the CD era. Reminiscent of the old wax cylinder days when bluesmen would record their sides in a single day,
Got to Move captures a spirited session from February 3, 1994. Fronting a band that includes pianist Jeff Levine, bassist Joe Rosato, and guitarist
Ron Thompson, Williamson runs through 13 inspired performances, reworking some choice old material and ranging stylistically from Piedmont country blues to reckless boogie and Chicago blues. Aside from Levine's lively runs on the ivories, the band mostly sits back and lets Williamson do his thing, swinging a mean axe as one of the most underrated slide guitarists in the blues. "Can't Afford to Do It" is a spry shuffle based on an antique Memphis tune while "Mr. Pawnshop Man (Three Ball Blues)" is a Delta-flavored delight. Williamson revisits a pair of his alleged cousin and former partner
Elmore James' tunes, breathing new life into the classic "Got to Move" while the entire band rocks the house with the instrumental "Hawaiian Boogie." Williamson builds a fine showcase for his slice-and-dice slide technique with "Homesick's Woman," a foot-stomping rocker with barrelhouse piano courtesy of Levine.
Got to Move is a solid collection from one of the unsung heroes of the blues, and a perfect introduction to the talents of Homesick James. Originally released in 1995 by Trix Records,
Got to Move was reissued by 32 Blues in 1999. ~ Rev. Keith A. Gordon