Although
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee had a stormy, tempestuous relationship at times, they recorded more than their share of great Piedmont blues during their many years as a duo.
Terry and
McGhee parted company in the mid-'70s, but
Walk On finds the two of them reunited on-stage at the Rising Sun Festijazz in Montreal, Quebec on July 22, 1980 (when
Terry was 68 and
McGhee was 64). And despite all of the well-publicized friction that sometimes existed between them in the '60s and '70s,
Terry and
McGhee don't sound like they are unhappy to be reunited -- not at all. In fact, the two of them enjoy a strong rapport during a six-song set that includes performances of
"Good Morning Blues," "Walk On," and
"I'm Gonna Get on My Feets After a While" (which is a perfect example of why the
Terry & McGhee twosome was highly regarded in both blues and folk circles).
Walk On isn't strictly a
Terry & McGhee release; while half of the LP is devoted to them, the other half consists of three selections by
Lightnin' Hopkins and three by
Louisiana Red (who is in good form on
"I'm a King Bee" and
"Sweet Home Chicago"). And it is interesting to note the stylistic differences between the artists -- you have Piedmont blues from
Terry & McGhee, Texas blues from
Hopkins, and a Louisiana-meets-Chicago approach from
Louisiana Red. Although
Walk On falls short of essential, this album still has a lot going for it and is an enjoyable document of the 1980 festival in Montreal. ~ Alex Henderson
![Sassy Mama [Justin-Time]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0068944915422_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Sassy Mama [Justin-Time]")
