“Let The Bossman Speak” by Jimmy Reed - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1971Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

TJR says

Jimmy's second LP of the 70s was issued on his old pal Al Smith's new label, Blues on Blues. By this stage, the 45-year-old bluesman is the father of 9 and the grandfather of 5. And family - as so often they were - are closely involved. Wife Mary pens 2 of the opening 3 - “Cold Chills” and “Don’t Cry” - whilst daughter Malinda, 18, pens the album's highlight, “Help Me At Dinnertime”. Son Jimmy Jr., not long back from Vietnam, appears on bass guitar and has rejoined his Dad's touring band. In the liner notes, Al takes time out to let us know where Jimmy's at:

Jimmy Reed is feeling fine these days. He had a pretty hard spell of sickness for about 8 or 9 months, but now his voice is strong; he is drinking less than usual and is looking good. He's not working the string of one-nighters he used to work during the time he was with the Al Smith band for so many years on the road. He's doing some college dates and specials like that.

When you hear this LP, you will get a pretty good idea of the new bag Jimmy Reed is coming out of. Jimmy has always had a good rapport with young people and he thinks that if he keeps himself updated with the beat, he will still have the young and old. So you will hear the sound of the Jimmy Reed of the early 50s, and the Jimmy Reed of the 70s. We should call this LP the old and the new Jimmy Reed. I could keep talking for days about Jimmy Reed but I would like to take time out and let you hear the great and fabulous soulful James Mathis 'Jimmy' Reed.

The Jukebox Rebel
30–May–2012

Tracklist
A1 [06:32] 6.4.png Jimmy Reed - Cold Chills (Mary Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A2 [02:56] 6.8.png Jimmy Reed - Help Me At Dinnertime (Malinda Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A3 [04:34] 5.6.png Jimmy Reed - Don’t Cry (Mary Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A4 [03:16] 4.3.png Jimmy Reed - Jimmy’s Hotpants (Al Smith) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
A5 [05:29] 5.9.png Jimmy Reed - Don’t Keep On Lyin’ (Al Smith) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B1 [03:39] 4.7.png Jimmy Reed - Down In The Ghetto [vocal version] (Al Smith) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2 [04:21] 4.4.png Jimmy Reed - Down In The Ghetto [instrumental version] (Al Smith) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B3 [03:23] 6.3.png Jimmy Reed - I Had A Dream (Al Smith) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B4 [05:13] 6.0.png Jimmy Reed - You Just A Womper-Stomper (Al Smith) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B5 [04:01] 6.6.png Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City [1971 version] (Jimmy Reed) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
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