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Described by more than one blues fan, musician, and critic as one of the most influential blues artists of all time, the venerable Jimmy Reed stands among the genre’s greats as just that: an understated but remarkable talent whose penchant for performing straight-ahead, no-frills boogie blues thrilled audiences (both black and white) until his death in the summer of 1976. His classic compositions with long-time guitarist Eddie Taylor, which include “Big Boss Man,” “Bright Lights Big City,” and “Honest I Do,” are some of the most-covered songs in the blues playbook, and he remains one of the only black blues artists to score hits on both the “R&B” and pop charts.
It is surprising, then, that until now no one has thought to produce a complete album that pays tribute to the legacy of the great Jimmy Reed. Blues fans in Texas and the world over can thank the genius of Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan, who teamed up with the German-based Ruf Records and an all-star ensemble of Austin blues veterans, for correcting this glaring omission and creating one of the finest Texas blues records of the decade with On the Jimmy Reed Highway.
Of course, how could this album have been anything but that? Consider the supporting cast: Derek O’Brien, an instrumental figure in the Austin blues scene and a card-carrying member of the Antone’s mafia, produced the album and contributed rhythm guitar on most tracks. The sessions were engineered by the talented Stuart Sullivan, who has left his mark on many a blues album recorded here in Austin. Omar Kent Dykes (of Omar & the Howlers) is the mastermind behind the project, and contributes two original compositions along with his big, baritone, Howlin’ Wolfesque vocals.
Jimmie Vaughan, of course, needs no introduction here in Austin. The multiple Grammy-winning blues guitarist from Dallas is the king of understatement, and lays down some mean Texas shuffle guitar on ten tracks. Vaughan is well-known to southern music fans as the co-founder, along with vocalist and harmonica master Kim Wilson, of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Wilson and Vaughan reunited for On the Jimmy Reed Highway, and blues fans can thank God for that. Wilson’s inspired harmonica solos and Vaughan’s smooth, smooth guitar work stun on classic cuts like “You Upset My Mind” (where Wilson blows in third position) and the double-shot medley “Baby What You Want Me To Do/Bright Lights Big City.”
Austin diva Lou Ann Barton, who was one-third of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Triple Threat before leaving in 1978, joins the boys on several tracks. Her playful vocal duets with Dykes are a whole ton of fun, especially on cuts like “Good Lover,” where the two singers trade off on lyrics like “I’m a real good lover/ I’m a natural born lover/ Now tell me baby/ Which one of us would you ‘ruther?” Fans of straight-up blues harmonica will delight in James Cotton’s contribution, who drops by to blow some no-nonsense first-position harp in classic Jimmy Reed style on “Caress Me Baby.” Austin favorite Gary Primich, one of the finest players in the nation, blows on “You Made Me Laugh” and “Baby, What’s Wrong.” Primich and company are accompanied by the talented Gary Clark, Jr. on the latter cut. Clark, an award-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter, stands poised to make a major breakthrough onto the national scene, and is one step closer with this release. Lubbock native Delbert McClinton throws down vocals and harp on “Hush Hush,” and the superb veteran rhythm section of Wes Starr (drums) and Ronnie James (bass, who has spent the past seven years with The Fabulous Thunderbirds) couldn’t have played more perfectly.
When I think of the blues, it’s music like this that comes to mind. And while there’s nothing like cueing up an original Vee-Jay pressing of Jimmy Reed from the 1950s or 60s, Omar, Jimmie and company show just how good his songs still sound when placed in the right hands.
Roger Gatchet is a regular contributor to both Austin Sound and Living Blues magazine. On Wednesday mornings you can hear him as DJ Smokehouse Brown, host of Blues at Sunrise from 7-9 AM on KVRX 91.7 FM, or online at www.kvrx.org.
