James Cotton - Late Night Blues (1967)

1. Intro - 0:26 
2. Honky Tonk - 4:23 
3. Woke up This Morning - 4:07 
4. Black Night - 3:43 
5. Feelin' Good - 4:59 
6. Mean Old World - 5:24 
7. Mother-In-Law Blues - 2:55 
8. Every Day I Have the Blues - 3:29 
9. Tramp - 4:58 
10. Nine Below Zero - 3:52 
11. That's Alright - 3:49 
12. Rock Me Baby - 3:48 
13. Rocket 88 - 2:46 
14. Outro - 2:16 

James Cotton - Harmonica, Vocals 
Luther Tucker - Guitar; 
Albert Gianquinto - Piano 
Francis Clay - Drums; 
Bobby Anderson – Bass

Subtitled "Live At The New Penelope Cafe - 1967", Late Night Blues is nothing less than a time machine; a straight-up recording of a 12-song James Cotton Band after-midnight set in a Montreal club, complete with audience reaction. Nothing, from static to clinking glasses, has been edited out; this is the real thing. Yes, you can hear some clipping, the piano's mixed down too far, but never mind these quibbles; the electricity of the performance comes through loud and clear.

James Cotton, by 1967 already a headliner and master harpist, here fronts a young band barely on the road a month. They're razor-sharp; there's no hint of over-rehearsal. Every tune is bursting with energy, partly because of the strong choice of material. We'd call them classics now, but they were fresh back in '67: tunes like Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk", B.B. King's "Woke Up This Morning", Jimmy Rogers' "That's Alright", Albert King's "Rock Me Baby", and one of my personal all-time favorites, Sonny Boy Williamson's "Nine Below Zero". It would be hard to imagine a stronger 1967-era set; you won't need a video to picture Cotton wailing "Ain't that a pity', ain't that a cryin' shame".

The production is straight 1967, worts and all. This CD is an authentic snapshot of that era's club sound; I was there, and these folks have got it right. Lay back, crank it up, close your eyes, and you'll probably smell the smoke. The picture on the cover of a young James Cotton, in suit and tie, with a handful of harps and sporting a full pompadour(!) is priceless, and is in itself worth the price of admission. Yes, blues fans, you can go home again! ---Jeff Skolnik, greenmanreview.com

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