Elmo James - The Sky is Crying

Elmo (Elmore) James was a legend of the blues and as a contemporary of the great Robert Johnson also influenced his fair share of future greats. George Harrison mentions his name on the "Let it Be" album on the track "For You Blue" for instance when he attempted a slide guitar solo paying homage to one who was greatly responsible for popularizing slide guitar playing. Jeff Beck also did a cover of "I Done Somebody Wrong" as a Yardbird although they called it "I Ain't Done Wrong" and attributed the composer as fellow Yardbird Keith Relf (shame on them). This album collects sides he recorded for Bobby Robinson from 1959-1961 in Chicago and New York. Seven of the 12 tracks, including the title track, a wrenching, slow slide guitar blues masterpiece, were first issued as singles on Robinson’s Fire label. A remake of his signature song, “Dust My Broom,” and others were released on later Robinson imprints including Sphere Sound and Enjoy. With sidemen such as Homesick James, Little Johnnie Jones, and New York session ace Wild Jimmy Spruill, James was in peak form and the settings helped him bring more variety to his sound than he is often credited with. It’s hard to go wrong with any Elmore James collection, and this one is indeed a classic.