Jimmy Dawkins Albums (17)
What The Critics Say
Jimmy Dawkins was one of the originators of the tough West Side sound in Chicago blues. Since his initial appearance on Delmark in the late '60s, his career has had its ups and downs, often going years without recording. After a string of lackluster releases in the '80s, and some time away from performing, Dawkins started to find his feet again in the early '90s. Tell Me Baby is Dawkins' second album for Fedora and features the same core players as his earlier effort for the label from 2001: Frank Goldwasser on guitar, John Suhr on organ, and Chris Millar on drums and producing. Additionally on this 2003 session, Dawkins is rejoined by guitarist Rich Kirch, whom he played with back in the '70s. The first track stumbles a bit, with Dawkins' guitar too low in the mix and perhaps just a bit too much production gloss. But as things progress, the band seems to pick up steam, and his guitar takes its proper place upfront. Dawkins' impassioned singing still hits home, his tough guitar soloing has lost none of its edge (there is still no one who plays quite like him), and the tunes give him plenty of room to stretch out. Tell Me Baby will never take the place of his early Delmark material, but it's good to hear an unsung bluesman like Dawkins still kicking it out after 35 years. ~ Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide
'American Roots: Blues'
Release Date 5/14/2002
Tracks 10
Label Ichiban
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'West Side Guitar Hero'
Release Date 2/19/2002
Tracks 11
Label Fedora
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What The Critics Say
First released in 1969, after guitarist Jimmy Dawkins had served a long apprenticeship as a sideman in the Chicago electric blues scene, Fast Fingers remains one of the finest pure electric blues albums of its era. Dawkins proves to be a solid songwriter and an able singer, although the best moments on the album invariably come when he tears off a casually perfect, deeply soulful, but never showy electric solo. Highlights include the stomping instrumental "Triple Trebles," featuring an outstanding Dawkins solo over a funky horn-driven rhythm, and the mellow, laid-back opener, "It Serves Me Right to Suffer." The album was finally reissued on CD in 1998 with a new cover and two fine outtakes from the original sessions, "Sad and Blues" (which features an exceptional extended solo by Dawkins) and "Back Home Blues," which is a 1969 recording with a new (1998) vocal by Dawkins. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
'Me, My Gitar & the Blues'
Release Date 8/26/1997
Tracks 10
Label Ichiban
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What The Critics Say
Not as impressive as either of his previous outings for Delmark, but still a great deal better than some of what would follow over the course of the next few years. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Here we go again with the off-the-wall spellings...more listenable modern work from the Chicago guitarist, who's found his groove again after quite a few years of less than enthralling releases. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
