np: Gatemouth Brown - Blackjack (Sugar Hill) (reissue from the '77 Real Records LP) Can't believe it's been 22 years. Represents several firsts for me from 1977: First time I'd ever heard of Gatemouth Brown. Just thought it looked cool at the record store. Liked his name, and his clothes in the cover shot. First cassette format I'd ever bought. (sounded *so* much better than 8-track on my brand new Sound Design player) First black man I'd ever heard play blues fiddle. (wait a minute....I *still* haven't heard another black man play fiddle blues like GMB; I'm guessing they're out there somewhere, I just haven't heard them) Listening now, I'm reminded how Gate plays the words to "Blackjack" on his guitar, and the notes are as understandable as the words are. (kinda like Albert Collins' playing the words "shut up....bitch" on Too Many Dirty Dishes) Twangy, jazzy, bluesy fun. I love it....again. Joe X. Horn Third Coast Music Network
