One of the few lousy recordings of this determinedly eclectic multi-instrumentalist's lengthy career. He's stuck going the superstar cameo route a la
John Lee Hooker (there's less
Gate on this disc than on any other
Gate set), welcoming
Eric Clapton aboard for some amazingly generic guitar solos; vocally duetting with frog-voiced
Leon Russell and chirpy
Maria Muldaur, and backing
Loudermilk as he sings his own composition "Tobacco Road" (where's
Lou Rawls when you need him?). A handful of acoustic numbers add depth, but there's not much here at all that's likely to satisfy
Gate's legion of blues fans. ~ Bill Dahl