Big Town Playboys Albums

What The Critics Say

Big Joe Louis replaced Mike Sanchez before the recording of this 2001 release, divided between Louis originals and covers of not-very-well-known songs by fairly renowned bluesmen. Louis has a deep, gruff voice, not great, but not as devoid of personality as those of many blues groups playing in a 1950s R&B-blues style. That's what the Big Town Playboys do, competently and reverently, on this disc. From their arrangements (which include saxophones) and taste in material, it's obvious that these are the guys buying those esoteric reissues of '50s blues and R&B from the Modern and Specialty catalogs. This doesn't reinvent that wheel, but emulates and revives it. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide