J.B. Hutto

For those who like their blues invigorating, look no further than this mouth-watering J.B. Hutto release from the Delmark vaults, some 22 years after his passing. Having absorbed much from the teachings of Elmore James, Hutto’s reputation for his ferocious slide attack and larger-than-life, Alabama-garbled vocals redefined Chicago blues in raw, feral terms comparable only to Hound Dog Taylor, whose band Hutto eventually inherited. This set, originally recorded in ’66 at the legendary Chicago Club, Mother Blues and a later studio session in ’72, loaned one instrumental track to Hutto’s first release, Hawk Squat. The balance was never released until now, as it was felt that the vocals were over-recorded. This, as it turns out, was simply Hutto’s overblown style. Fans of the Fat Possum gut-bucket sound might learn a thing or two from the incendiary style of this true Chicago originator. Brace yourself for such tracks as "Evening Train,” fiery instrumentals such as "Hawk’s Rock,” raucous rockers like "Hip Shakin’” and low-down, dirty crawls like "Precious Stone.” This is raunchy and hypnotically essential.