Album:
Shoot That Thang
Size: 132,4 MB
Time: 52:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Delta Blues
Art: Full
01. Guilty Man (4:20)
02. Don't Mess With The Blues (4:11)
03. Tin Top Shack (3:48)
04. Mennonite Blues (8:54)
05. Bus-Train-Rain (4:29)
06. Staingy Wid It (3:47)
07. Could Have Been Me (4:24)
08. Junky Trunk (4:39)
09. Marry Me (2:12)
10. Wrong To Sing The Blues (5:30)
11. Shoot That Thang! (8:23)
A four-page cartoon, penned by excellent cartoon author Harvey Pekar, tells a capsule history of Super Chikan in the liner notes to this release. To be honest, it makes the guitarist/singer's music out to be more interesting than it really is. It's agreeable, laid-back, funky Mississippi blues, by a trio also including Dione Thomas on drums and Harvell Thomas on bass. Although Super Chikan plays ingeniously constructed guitars made from flattened gas cans, the sounds aren't much different from what you hear on many a juke-jointish blues record. Occasionally he gets some "Shaft"-like distorted effects, giving his fullest vent to them on the eight-minute title track. His lyrics are often wry and observational, as on "Mennonite Blues," and sometimes he interjects some spoken comments. That's all a good day's work, but not a notable twist or forward step in the blues' evolutionary path. ~by Richie Unterberger
Shoot That Thang
Album:
Welcome To Sunny Bluesville
Size: 159,6 MB
Time: 68:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Delta Blues
Art: Full
01. All My Yesterdays (4:43)
02. 555 (4:30)
03. Do What Your Daddy Said (3:34)
04. Bluesville Blues (5:35)
05. Grandpa's Blues (5:17)
06. Birthday Boogie (4:40)
07. Mama's Milk Cow Blues (4:19)
08. Old Delta Blues Scraps (4:21)
09. Hooker Boogie (4:10)
10. Pretty Red Dress (5:36)
11. Mr. Jimmy (5:42)
12. Made You Laugh (5:46)
13. St. Blues Guitar (5:09)
14. Sunshine Boogie (4:36)
In late February, 2010, Super Chikan and I braved one of the worst winter storms of the season, taking turns driving through blinding snow all night after a solo gig promoting Super Chikan’s Chikadelic CD and his four Blues Music Award nominations. We were trying our best to get to a recording session in Bluesville, that mythical town where Bill Wax runs Low-Fi’s Bar and Pool Hall, and BB King is the Mayor. Just as we pulled into town, the snow stopped and the sun started shining. We got out of the SUV, and Bill welcomed us to sunny Bluesville.
Just around the corner from Low-Fi’s is Sirius/XM’s state of the art recording studio, where Super Chikan laid down seven solo tracks. This is not just solo Super Chikan; you’ll get a rare taste of acoustic Super Chikan playing my Martin D-1. The solo electric tracks are played on Chikan’s favorite Guijo, which he made from a ceiling fan housing.
Super Chikan was so pleased with the results that he wanted to do another session with his band, The Fighting Cocks— Lala, Heather, and Jamiesa. So, we went back to Bluesville in August on our way to the Heritage Blues Festival in Wheeling, West Virginia. Rolling into town just after an overnight storm had toppled trees and ripped down power lines, Super Chikan and the ladies were once again greeted by Bill Wax and a sunny sky.
Super Chikan and the ladies recorded seven more songs, several in just one take. In addition to his Guijo, Super Chikan played his Mississippi Chikan Head Chopper diddly bow “axe”, and his Leghorn and Crossbreed Chiktars. Lala joined in on keys, Heather on bass, and Jamiesa on drums. We combined the two sessions, and hope you enjoy the results!
Many thanks to Bill Wax, Michael Taylor, and all the folks at Sirius/XM Satellite Radio for making this CD possible! Also, thanks to all the fans who listen to the music.
Welcome To Sunny Bluesville