Notes Hot and Blue

by Ron Weinstock

February 1997

Johnny Rawls was part of the soul-blues duo Rawls and Luckett who had a solid Rooster Blues album a couple years ago. Rawls, who has been a frequent visitor to the D.C. area in the past half year, has a fine new album on the English JSP label, Here We Go. Recorded in Jackson, Mississippi, singer-guitarist Rawls is heard on eleven originals that display his gritty vocals, and tasty guitar backed by a steady backing sextet, with the keyboards of David Taylor being particularly effective in setting the mood. A couple of lyrical themes reappear in some of the songs. One is how strong and persistent feelings can be, whether falling in love with a former lover after seeing her at a night club (the title track), or the more direct Old Flame, where Rawls notes "Old flames don't die." Then there is the celebration of his Sweet Woman, or telling her I Would Be Nothing darling without your love. I Got a Problem is an idiomatic modern urban blues although Rawls' problem of having too many women and how to choose among them will sound like some juvenile male fantasy. Hey, don't be surprised if some guitar slinger picks up on it and becomes identified with it. Problem is followed by Gonna Put You Down, where his women has been disrespecting him going around with every man in town. With a few changes, this might be an answer to Problem. But Candy Man, is probably Rawls' true heart. It's where he wants to give his women good loving and do the best he can for her. And that what's appealing about this record. Rawls certainly does the best he can here on a tasty set that is very representative of his fine live performances.

DC Blues Society