Too Wet to Plow

by Johnny Shines

Overview

Johnny Shines was far from predictable. Though he recorded his share of inspired electric dates, he had no problem turning around and delivering a stripped-down, all-acoustic Delta blues session like Too Wet to Plow. Recorded in Edmonton, Canada in 1975 and reissued on CD by Concord Jazz's Blues Alliance label in 1996, Too Wet to Plow finds Shines in excellent form. His solid accompaniment includes harmonica player Sugar Blue and bassist Ron Rault, as well as guitarist/singer Louisiana Red (a superb bluesman who isn't nearly as well known as he should be), and Shines clearly has a strong rapport with them on "Red Sun," "Traveling Back Home," and other highly personal originals. Although Shines' own songs are dominant, one of the album's high points is an interpretation of Robert Johnson's "Hot Tamale." Highly recommended. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	04/19/2005
Label:	Tomato
UPC:	0820550206529
Rank:	145169

Tracks

1. Too Wet to Plow
2. Travelling Back Home
3. Hot Tamale
4. Moanin' the Blues
5. Red Sun
6. Winding Mind
7. You Better Turn Around
8. The Wind Is Blowin'
9. Trouble's All I See
10. 30 Days in Jail
11. Pay Day Woman
12. Epilog

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Shines   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Louisiana Red   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Sugar Blue   Harmonica
Ron Rault   Bass

Technical Credits

Johnny Shines   Composer
Hank Williams   Composer
Heiner Stadler   Producer
Holger Petersen   Remixing,Photography,Executive Producer
Betty Allen   Engineer
Bill Evans   Composer
Kent Cooper   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Liner Notes
Robert Johnson   Composer
Louisiana Red   Composer
Louisiana Red aka Iverson Minter (music) Kent Cooper (lyrics)   Composer
Barry Allen   Engineer
Melissa Cabrera   Reissue Coordination
Katja Maas   Reissue Coordination
Les Bateman   Remixing
Emil Kojuharov   Cover Design
Ricky Erickson   Engineer,Remixing
Tyson Schuetze   Reissue Coordination
Traditional   Composer
Gene Paul   Digital Mastering