Snooks Eaglin Albums (9)
'Soul Train from Nawlins: Live at the Park Tower Blues Festival'
Release Date 2/17/2003
Tracks 17
Label P-Vine Japan
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What The Critics Say
Culled from two nights of recording at the Park Tower Hall in Tokyo in December of 1995, this album illustrates the astonishing breadth and depth to the music Snooks Eaglin chooses to interpret in a single evening. His guitar chops are impeccable, his tone clean without being thin, and his ability to whip off lick after astonishing lick in a variety of styles while still being his own man puts him at the forefront alongside any new breed innovators. With solid swinging support, Eaglin sounds relaxed and totally in command. His sideways spins on old chestnuts like "Hello Josephine" sound refreshing, while his nod to Smiley Lewis on "Down Yonder (We Go Ballin')" and "Lillie Mae" are spot-on treatments imbued with respect for an old New Orleans running buddy. His soulful reading of Dan Penn's "Nine Pound Steel" sets the stage for a couple of strange (on the surface) choices, the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing" and Stevie Wonder's "(Boogie On) Reggae Woman," which Eaglin totally stamps with the full-bore charm of his own personality. But if anyone truly doubts that Eaglin is not a serious bluesman to be reckoned with, one listen to the almost seven minutes of "Black Night" will dispel any such notions, even before the guitar solo hits. While many live albums exude a "guess you had to be there" quality to them, this one makes you wish you had been there. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Give this New Orleans master enough studio time, and he'll redo the entire history of postwar R&B his own way. Here he lays his mind to Joe Simon's powerhouse soul ballad "Nine Pound Steel," the Midnighters' "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go," even Bill Haley & the Comets' "Skinny Minnie," and the Five Keys' loopy "Ling Ting Tong," giving each the same singular treatment that he's always brought to his recordings. George Porter and Herman Ernest return to lay down their immaculate grooves, and Fred Kemp blows sturdy sax on Eaglin's parade-beat "I Went to the Mardi Gras." ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The best of Eaglin's terrific series of Black Top efforts so far -- song selection is absolutely unassailable (lots of savage New Orleans covers, from Lloyd Price and Professor Longhair to Willie Tee and Earl King), the band simmers and sizzles with spicy second-line fire (bassist George Porter, Jr. and drummer Herman Ernest III are a formidable pair indeed), and Eaglin's churchy, commanding vocals and blistering guitar work are nothing short of mind-boggling throughout the entire disc. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
'Baby, You Can Get Your Gun!'
Release Date 1/17/1990
Tracks 11
Label Black Top
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What The Critics Say
The first of the masterful guitarist Snooks Eaglin's amazing series of albums for Black Top is an earthly delight; his utterly unpredictable guitar weaves and darts through supple rhythms provided by New Orleans vets Smokey Johnson on drums and Erving Charles, Jr. on bass (David Lastie is on sax). Few artists boast Eaglin's "human jukebox" capabilities; his amazingly vast knowledge of eclectic numbers takes in the Four Blazes' "Mary Jo," Tommy Ridgley's "Lavinia," and the Ventures' version of "Perfidia." ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Out of Nowhere is another wonderful selection of Eaglin-ized oldies ranging from Crescent City chestnuts by Tommy Ridgley, Benny Spellman, and Smiley Lewis to such unexpected fare as Nappy Brown's "Wella Wella Baby-La," the Isleys' "It's Your Thing," and the Falcons' "You're So Fine." Guitarist Anson Funderburgh's band is utilized for backup on half the set; a combo sporting saxophonist Grady Gaines is heard on most of the rest (Eaglin goes it alone on "Kiss of Fire"). ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
'Possum up a Simmon Tree'
Release Date 1/1/1981
Tracks 14
Label Arhoolie
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What The Critics Say
Sam Charters produced this marvelously funky collection of oldies rendered Eaglin-style with an all-star Crescent City combo: pianist Ellis Marsalis, saxist Clarence Ford, and the French brothers as rhythm section. Eaglin's revisit of "Yours Truly" floats over a rhythmic bed so supremely second-line funky that it's astonishing, while he personalizes the New Orleans classics "Oh Red," "Down Yonder," and "Let the Four Winds Blow" as only Snooks Eaglin can. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Recorded during the time in which Eaglin was doubling as a blues/folk singer and a commercial R&B artist (for Imperial). He addresses the acoustic folk and blues side of his repertoire, performing everything solo on six and 12-string guitars. Time will probably judge these not to be as interesting as his full-band New Orleans R&B recordings. But this is warm, good-natured acoustic blues, with interpretations of traditional tunes, early blues by Robert Johnson, and then-recent R&B hits by Ray Charles, Arthur Crudup, and Amos Milburn. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
