James Cotton
Cotton Mouth Man
Alligator Records
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It wasn’t that many
years ago that I was sitting in the ballroom of the
Doubletree in Memphis, listening to Dick Waterman’s
KBA acceptance speech for his involvement in B.B.
King’s 80th birthday book. Dick admonished us that
day to not be fair-weather blues fans, to get out
and hear the blues every chance we got without
regards to the conditions or weather, to support the
genre. After listening to James Cotton’s
Cotton Mouth Man CD on Alligator Records, I
think it’s imperative that we add James’ name to the
list of those blues artists you have to see.
Produced by KBA and
Grammy winning producer Tom Hambridge, Cotton
Mouth Man melds the talents of James' stellar
band: Darrell Nulisch on vocals,Tom Holland on
guitar, Noel Neal on bass, and Jerry Porter on the
drums, with guest appearances by Gregg Allman, Joe
Bonamassa, Ruthie Foster, Warren Haynes, Delbert
McClinton and Keb’ Mo to produce an old school disc
that is very decidedly modern in its approach and
sound. Cotton Mouth Man is a killer record
and one that every self-respecting blues fan should
have in their collection very soon!
The title track,
“Cotton Mouth Man,” is our opening track and has
Darrell at the mic with Joe on guitar. We’re
somewhere deep in the Delta at a juke joint to hear
the legendary cotton mouth man on harp and Darrell
is telling us all about it. “His harp does all his
talking…he’s wicked and he’s wild…gather around him
children…still got one more mile…cotton mouth man!”
James’s harp is front and center and he’s blowing
some of the best harmonica I’ve ever heard. He might
even convert me to a harp fan at this point!
Cotton vocally
introduces our next cut, “Midnight Train,” and Gregg
Allman has the lead vocal for this one. “That
midnight train…took my baby you see…sure do miss
her…she meant the world to me…when its midnight…I
hear that whistle blow…but I’m never…never gonna see
that midnight train no more.” The love of Gregg’s
life has left him and she’s for sure not coming
back. Lamenting her departure allows James to fill
in Gregg’s sadness with melancholy tones from his
harp while Gregg is left alone to ponder the sadness
of his loss.
“Mississippi Mud” is
up next and Keb’ Mo tells us all about the hardships
of trying to grow a crop in the Mississippi mud. “I
found out early…you got to stay behind the mule…I
learned things in the field…that I never learned in
school…it’s in my soul…and in my blood….that old
Mississippi mud.” Living in the Delta is a hard life
and many a bluesman has learned his life lessons
there.
“He Was There” finds
Nulisch back at the mic and telling us about
Cotton’s decision to leave the truck driving life
behind. “Now he went to Chicago…in 1954…and blues
was blasting…out of each and every door…those were
good times…man oh man….fine looking womens…all
around the bandstand…it’s all true…I ain’t blowing
hot air…you can’t make this stuff up…James Cotton,
he was there.” It was a heady time in Chicago blues
history and James was just one of many Delta
bluesmen who made his way north to the Mecca. Warren
Haynes takes the mic for the lead on the cut,
“Something For Me.” Warren’s got his eye on the
prize and he’s letting the girl know, “Way down in
Memphis….long time ago….you’re pretty flower...I’m a
virgin bee…honey…you got something for me!” It’s
pretty clear what’s on Warren’s mind and he’s about
to lose that stinger of his very shortly.
Our tempo slows down
a bit and Ruthie Foster takes the vocal for “Wrapped
Around My Heart.” The break-up was painful and
Ruthie’s still having trouble dealing with the loss
of this love in her life. “I was counting on your
love, babe…right from the very start….now I’m
drinking by myself….until my dying day…you’ll stay
wrapped around my heart.” James’s harp is again at
the forefront and the entire disc features some of
the best harmonica I’ve ever heard on one disc ever.
“Saint on Sunday”
finds Darrell telling us about the multiple
personalities that his baby his for him. “She’s a
saint on Sunday…but a devil when the week-end
comes!” Sounds like the best kind of baby to me and
Darrell’s not complaining. “She’s the preacher’s
daughter…and her mama’s child…bless my soul…that
woman’s wild…Saturday night…there’s not enough
wine…when it comes to loving…she can’t get enough.”
Sounds like a winning combination, Darrell, I’d hang
onto her. Delbert’s turn at the vocals is next and
he’s telling how tough life can be in “Hard
Sometimes.” “It gets hard sometimes…when you’re
gone…when I’m all along…when I can’t get you out of
my mind…it gets hard sometimes.” Temptation is all
around Delbert but he finds himself lost in the
thoughts of the woman he loves and misses her
terribly when she’s not at home.
Our next cut, “Young
Bold Women,” has New Orleans flair to it and Darrell
is lamenting the charms of younger women. “Young
bold women…that’s my favorite type…young bold
women…make everything all right.” Sounds like
Darrell is catching on quick and enjoying the charms
of young bold women. “Bird Nest on the Ground” is
the one cover on Cotton’s album and it’s meant as a
tribute to his mentor, Muddy Waters. “As long as you
love me…I got a good thing…I got a pretty little
girl…and she love me…do what I say…she gave me the
key to the city…and I’ve got everything going my
way. You know I done got lucky…found me a bird’s
nest on the ground.” Chuck Leavell is at the piano
lending his flavor to the tune and Cotton’s harp
fills have to be heard to be believed.
Keb’ Mo is back on
the tune, “Wasn’t My Time to Go.” “Father went
first…then my sweet mother….then it was just me…my
sister and my brother….before too long they were up
and gone…had to make my way…on my own…I guess it
wasn’t my time to go.” This tune hits way too close
to home for me, but I appreciate the fact that we’re
all on this earth until God calls us home, until
then; it isn’t our time to go.
Cotton Mouth Man
closes with “Blues Is Good For You” and “Bonnie
Blue.” Nulisch is back at the mic telling us that,
“doctor done told me...playing the blues is good for
you…just keep on blowing…til you’re one hundred and
two.” We’ll all be lucky to live that long, but
maybe there’s something in the doctor’s prescription
for living life. “Bonnie Blue” finds Cotton at the
microphone, something he doesn’t do very often given
the effects of throat cancer surgery from many years
ago. But “Bonnie Blue” is the name of the plantation
where Cotton grew up and it’s his opportunity to
reflect on a life in the blues well lived. “I never
learned to read and write…the blues is all I know to
do.” James grew up learning from the best --- Sonny
Boy Williamson, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. He
took the lessons learned and has gone on to have an
amazing career in the blues that has spanned almost
seven decades.
Kudos to the
brilliant production work of Tom Hambridge and the
amazing cast of guest artists who sat in with James’
band to produce a brilliant record. Cotton Mouth
Man has been nominated for a Grammy and a couple
of Blues Music Awards --- and deservedly so. It’s
easily one of the five best CDs of the year and well
deserving of all the praise it’s receiving. Well
done, Mr. Cotton!
---
Kyle Deibler