Charlie Musselwhite

I Ain’t Lyin’
Henrietta Records

Charlie Musselwhite has released another live recording following in the footsteps of his 2012 album Juke Joint Chapel, which brought him a Grammy nomination. Recorded at two festivals, Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival in Sonoma, California and the Clarksdale Soundstage in Mississippi, I Ain’t Lyin’ is another strong outing that finds Musselwhite and his band in prime performance shape.

The band here is almost the same as on his 2012 release, with June Core helming the skins and Matthew Stubbs on guitar. The newest part of this band is bass player Steve Froberg. This is a splendid mix where none of the parts overshadow anybody else. Musselwhite remains forefront with his harmonica and voice, but each of the players are key cogs to this unit and it shows.

Musselwhite wrote all but two of the selections and many are prime numbers that have been favorites of his followers for many years. The cover tracks are Elmore James’ “Done Somebody Wrong” and Duke Pearson’s “Cristo Redentor.” The latter is just about a standard for Musselwhite and has appeared on several of his releases over the years going all the way back to his break-out release Stand Back! It’d be hard to imagine a Charlie Musselwhite appearance without this song being played. And once again he proves its worth.

Of the originals, you will definitely find many of his best and most loved titles from his fifty-plus-year career. They include greats like “If I Should Have Bad Luck,” “Long Lean Lanky Mama” and “Blues, Why Do You Bother Me?”

Charlie Musselwhite has proven over time that he is one of the all-time premier voices behind a blues harmonica. No need to compare him with the Sonny Boys or Walters (Big and Little) as he has carved his own niche with his blues hall of fame and his influence on future players will just as long lasting. One thing he’ll bring to the table in live presentations is everything that is good in the blues today and as he’d tell you himself from the stage, “I Ain’t Lyin’!”

Total Time: 57:43

Good Blues Tonight / Done Somebody Wrong / Long Lean Lanky Mama / Always Been Your Friend / If I Should Have Bad Luck / My Kinda Gal / Blues, Why Do You Worry Me? / 300 Miles To Go / Long Leg Woman / Cristo Redentor / Good Blues Tonight (unedited)