Elvin Bishop and Little Smoky Smothers – That’s My Partner

0
That's My Partner

Elvin Bishop should receive some sort of award. How many years now has he been serving up killer blues-rock and having more fun that any one person should be allowed to have? Here he’s joined by Smothers, who he met back in ’61, and according to the liner notes, he learned plenty about performing and playing guitar from Smoky in those early days.

Well, this reunion is a rousing success. Recorded live, it features cuts like “Roll Your Moneymaker” that shows Elvin rockin’ out on guitar and Smoky playing some subtle blues. There’s good-old-fashioned fun rockin’ blues on cuts like “Slow Down,” whose lyric advises us old folks to take it a little easier than we might have 20 years ago. “Little Red Rooster” is done as a slow blues with blistering guitar breaks all around. The B.B.-esque “Annie Mae” is highlighted by some great solos by Strothers and some nice slide from Elvin. You’ll love Elvin’s 335 tone throughout the album, and Smoky’s timeless blues sound and phrasing. This album is about as fun a live record as you can make. Recommended.



This article originally appeared in VG‘s Feb. ’01 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.

No posts to display