Larry Davis
Sooner Or Later
Bullseye Blues |
A lot of modern blues fans may associate the song “Texas Flood” with
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s version, but anyone who’s heard the original,
composed and performed by Larry Davis (with lead guitar by Fenton
Robinson) will recognize his rendition as the definitive one. Recorded
in 1958 for Duke Records, “Texas Flood” was one of only three single
Davis released for Duke (following a recommendation by Duke mainstay
Bobby Bland) before being dropped by the label.
Though subsequent recording opportunities were scarce, Davis forged on,
moving to St. Louis and eventually picking up guitar while playing bass
in Albert King’s band. He cut a late ’60s session for Virgo featuring
Davis’ interpretation of several B. B. King songs, but any momentum
gathered was cut short due to a serious motorcycle accident and later a
stroke that sidelined Davis for a while in the ’70s. In the early ’80s,
he teamed with St. Louis producer Oliver Sain and recorded a fine set
for Rooster Blues (Funny Stuff) that dominated the 1982 Handy Awards,
and in the mid-’80s, I Ain’t Beggin’ Nobody, an excellent, but hard to
find set on the Pulsar label (later released to wider distribution on
Evidence).
In 1992, Davis signed with Ron Levy’s Bullseye Blues label and recorded
what is regarded by many as his finest album, Sooner or Later. On this
release, Davis produced a wonderful selection of classic tunes,
including Little Milton Campbell’s “How Could You Leave Me,” David Dee’s
“I’m Workin’ On It,” Johnson & Mosley’s “Penitentiary Blues,” and
Charlie Singleton’s “Help The Poor.” Other standouts on the cover tunes
are the remake of the Stax classic, “Little Bluebird,” and a sensitive
reading of “Letter From My Darling.”
Davis’ smooth, passionate tenor and his choice of material show the
influence of B. B. King and Campbell, and his stinging leads are
reminiscent of his mentor, Albert King. Davis’ own compositions consist
of two choice instrumentals, “Little Rock,” and “102nd Street Blues,”
and the extremely soulful “Way Out West (Parts 1 & 2).”
Lending Davis a hand on Sooner or Later is a stellar cast of Memphis
area musicians, including rhythm guitarist Thomas Bingham and the
Memphis Horns. Levy plays organ and also produced the disc, one of his
best efforts.
Larry Davis’ greatest release was also his final one. He was dead from
cancer just two years after the release of Sooner or Later, but it did
garner him some much-deserved attention and recognition. Sooner or Later
ranks as one of the best blues albums of the 1990s.
--- Graham Clarke