Whose Muddy Shoes [Bonus Track] [Remastered]

by Elmore James, John Brim

Overview

Elmore James had recorded a session for Chess in 1953 before settling down with the Bihari Brothers and again in 1960, shortly before starting his final recordings for Bobby Robinson's Fire, Fury and Enjoy labels. This collects up all of them with the bonus addition of an alternate take of "The Sun Is Shining," which can be interpreted as a precursor to his later hit "The Sky Is Crying." The earlier sides from 1953 lack his inimitable slide, but the 1960 session produced classics like "Talk to Me Baby," "Madison Blues" and a powerful reading of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday." These tracks of James working with the Chess production team are delightfully fleshed out with a half-dozen gems by the highly underrated John Brim, some of which include stellar harp work by Little Walter ("Rattlesnake," "Be Careful" -- on which Walter stops playing in several spots to become an ad-lib backup vocalist -- and "You Got Me") as well as the original version of "Ice Cream Man," better known to rock fans from Van Halen's cover version of it from their debut album. ~ Cub Koda

Product Details

Release Date:	12/17/2013
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988005792594
Rank:	79733

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Elmore James   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
John Brim   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
J.T. Brown   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Grace Brim   Drums
Eddie Taylor   Guitar
W.C. Dalton   Bass
James Williamson   Guitar
Johnny Jones   Piano
Odie Payne, Jr.   Drums
Snooky Pryor   Harmonica
Fred Below   Drums
Little Walter   Harmonica
Homesick James Williamson   Guitar
Robert Lockwood, Jr.   Guitar
Willie Dixon   Bass
Henry "Sneaky Joe" Harris   Drums
James Dalton   Harmonica

Technical Credits

T-Bone Walker   Composer
Andy McKaie   Research,Coordination
Grace Brim   Photography
Elmore James   Composer,Performer
John Brim   Composer,Performer
Cathy Swan   Design
Doug Schwartz   Digital Transfers
Don Snowden   Liner Notes
Leonard Chess   Producer
Robert Leroy Johnson   Composer
Pete Welding   Liner Notes,Supervision Assistant
Phil Chess   Producer
Aaron Walker   Composer
Mark Humphrey   Photography
Robert Johnson   Composer
Vartan   Art Direction
Marshall Chess   Release Supervisor
Willie Dixon   Composer,Photography
Dave Purple   Engineer
George Adins   Photography