The Memphis-born, Chicago blues legend Johnny Shines is captured here at a live show at Washington University’s Graham Hall in St. Louis In 1973. The recording, now titled The Blues Came Falling Down was overseen by Leroy Jodie Pierson, founder of the legendary label Nighthawk Records, but was never issued until now. The liners and photos come courtesy of Pierson as well. It’s a generous 20 tracks that runs a full 80 minutes. Johnny Shines has never sounded better on record in this mostly solo performance excepting three tunes where Pierson, also a stellar guitarist, joined him.
Johnny Shines is rightfully in the Blues Hall of Fame. Not many musicians in the twentieth century could claim to have toured with Robert Johnson, recorded for Columbia, Vanguard, and Chess Records, and played with Little Walter, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and Willie Dixon to name just the highly recognized ones. Shines Toured with Johnson in the ‘30s, made his first record postwar with Columbia in 1946, and with Chess in 1950. His work in the’50s went unnoticed, as most of it was actually unreleased.
In the ‘70s Shines was an important player in the Chicago blues scene, having been rediscovered at a Howlin’ Wolf show. He not only played but toured actively until a stroke slowed him down in 1980. Bluesman Johnny Nicholas was instrumental in giving Shines a lift in the ‘70s, bringing him, along with Big Walter Horton and Boogie Woogie Red, to the Ann Arbor Blues Festivals in 1972 and 1974. Those three artists also appeared on the landmark 1977 Nicholas album Too Many Bad Habits which was re-issued last year and now exists also in a box set.
Nicholas commented on the sessions, “I requested the original masters back from the label numerous times over the years and finally got possession of all multi track tapes, masters, art work and photos in January of 2016. After we successfully transferred all of the old tapes, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a bunch of stellar performances which had never been released—Walter and Johnny and Red were my friends and mentors and hearing this stuff was such a thrill. I hope people enjoy listening to these historical slices of the real blues, played by the masters, as much as we have enjoyed re-discovering, listening to and remastering them.” During this same period Shines recorded a string of albums for Testament, Blue Horizon, Advent, Rounder, Biograph, and Blind Pig. Shines appeared and played in the documentary The Search for Robert Johnson in 1991, just before his death in 1992.
So much for the history, this writer’s version. Pierson’s notes in the liners are a bit different (no Johnny Nicholas reference) and more detailed in terms of the earlier years. This recording consists of mostly Shines originals except for four tunes from Robert Johnson, the traditional “Stand By Me” (not the Ben E. King tune), “Someday Baby Blues” (Hammie Nixon/Sleepy John Estes), and “it’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine” (Willie Johnson). The Johnson tunes are: “Kind Hearted Woman Blues, ”I’m a Steady Rollin’ Man,” “They’re Red Hot (Hot Tamales)” and “Sweet Home Chicago.”
Blues recordings just don’t get much better than this. Listen to Shines sing on only the second track, “Seems Like a Million Years” and it’s clear that he becomes impassioned vocally early on and remains that way throughout. These tunes are punctuated with stellar acoustic picking and slide work too. The clarity is remarkable; Johnny could be playing in your living room and the audience is fully engaged, enraptured more than likely. It’s widely accepted that Robert Johnson has one of the most difficult guitar styles to replicate but Shines was one who could, given his touring experience with Johnson. Listen to Shines’ guitar work on “I’m a Steady Rollin’ Man” and “Sweet Home Chicago “ (with Pierson) for evidence.
Given the length of the CD, it might be tempting to cheery pick, but be well advised to listen to this in its entirety. Although it’s been unissued until now, this may well be the best Johnny Shines recording ever done.
