[.ca] West Side Soul

From Amazon.com:
Many believe this 1967 landmark, Sam Maghett's first full-length studio recording, is the greatest blues album ever made. While that assertion is awfully difficult to substantiate, these 11 gems (plus one alternate) certainly deserve hyperbolic praise. These cuts have a dramatically direct emotional appeal, a blunt, unfiltered artlessness that's rarely been achieved in an electric setting. Sam's spirited vocals come from his heart and his belly, not his brain. His guitar work is smoothly melodic, à la B. B. King with a bit more bite, frenetic and energetic like Buddy Guy, but with more taste. Since this Mississippi native died at age 32, this album sits in a mystical place in blues history: In many ways, it is to Chicago blues what Robert Johnson's meager output is to Delta blues. --Marc Greilsamer

Soulful blues. (Or bluesy soul...):
This album is Magic Sam Maghett's finest hour, and one of the finest electric blues albums of the 60s. He plays blues with a strong soul influence, particularly on the magnificent "That's All I Need" and "I Don't Want No Woman". Classic slow blues ("All Of Your Love", "I Found A New Love"). And superb versions of Jimmy McCracklin's "Every Night And Every Day", Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago" and J.B. Lenoir's "Mama Talk To Your Daughter". Not everything is equally memorable, of course, and the arrangements may feel a little bit unvaried towards the end, but the overall impression of "West Side Soul" is that of a truly great, electrifying blues record, one which belongs in any serious blues collection. 4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

Soaring:
Magic Sam's gorgeous voice is reminiscent of Sam Cooke. With each phrase he conveys a sense of joy. The guitarwork is something of a bonus--but quite a bonus. His combination of rhythm and single -note picking is great to hear. In (both versions of) "I Don't Want No Woman" The melodic runs hit high and low,jumping above and below the implied chord. "Sweet Home Chicago" is propelled by simple chord runs punctuated by exclamatory single note picking. Sometimes there are simply too many notes, but this is a quibble in the face of such an exciting and joyous album.

Man, what an album:
I can't really disagree with anyone else. This is a great album, maybe not the greatest, but it's certainly on par with B.B.'s Live at the Regal which I also love. Magic Sam really expresses the melancholy that I like about the blues (on That's All I Need especially). This feeling became less important (but was still there) as the blues morphed into rock and roll. That's why I prefer the Stones to the Beatles. In their best songs, the Stones still have it, the Beatles really don't. No matter what my mood is, the best blues just seems to fit. If I'm feeling good, then I can slip into the groove and relax. If I'm feeling low, then the blues lifts me up. It doesn't make me "forget my troubles" (a phrase I've always hated) but just helps me feel the mood without wallowing in it. If you like this album, I'd also recommend Otis Spann, he doesn't have the swagger of his one-time boss Muddy Waters but is more relaxed and reflective like Magic Sam.

MY FATHER:
I HAVE NOT LISTEN TO ALL MY FATHER'S MUSIC YET. BUT THE MUSIC THAT I HAVE HEARD ALL READY I LOVE. SO FAR MY FAVORITE SONG IS, ALL YO LOVE AND BACK DOOR FRIEND. I AM THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF MAGIC SAM. I WOULD LIKE TO GET KNOW MY OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTER'S. BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT LISTEN AND BUY'S MY FATHER MUSIC. I HOPE TO GO VISIT THE BLUES CLUB DOWN TOWN CHICAGO ON MY BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT HIS NAME WAS ON THE WALL.I WOLD NOT MIND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I AM HIS DAUGHTER. THANK YOU, MS.NINA MAGHETT

Greatest album?:
It is hard to assess the blues as an album-oriented art form, but I feel safe in stating that West Side Soul is the finest record ever produced in any genre of music. Everything on this CD is perfect - from Sam's mind-bending guitar work to his truly impressive vocal abilities to the rock-steady rhythm section. Not to be overlooked is the second guitar work of Mighty Joe Young. The song selections seamlessly befit Sam's boogie-laden sound, making for a relaxed and overall natural listening experience. If there's one album to own, it's this one.

• That's All I Need
• I Need You So Bad
• I Feel So Good (I Wanna Boogie)
• All Your Love
• I Don't Want No Woman
• Sweet Home Chicago
• I Found a New Love
• Every Night and Every Day
• Lookin' Good \oInstrumental\c
• My Love Will Never Die
• Mama Talk to Your Daughter
• I Don't Want No Woman \oAlternate Take\c