Lowell Fulson's comfortably laid-back but groovin'
soul-blues workout
"Tramp" quickly became one of his biggest hits (and fared even better in a cover version by
Otis Redding and
Carla Thomas), and this album (released to tie in with the single's success) finds
Fulson following a similar stylistic path. While most of
Tramp's tunes lean more heavily on
traditional blues structures than the title tune,
Fulson was obviously aiming for a funky ambience rather than the heavy emotional crush of the deep
blues, and his clean, uncluttered guitar solos are warmer and more approachable than the typical Chicago-style axe work of the day. There's a sly playfulness to this material that's winning, and even the most down-and-out songs here display a light touch and creative intelligence that sets
Fulson apart. Hardly a masterpiece,
Tramp is still the sort of album to please fans and new admirers alike. ~ Mark Deming