Big Dog 92-7 Music Guide

Backtracking: The Duke Recordings, Vol. 2

RELEASE
June 16, 1998
LABEL
MCA
GENRES
Blues, Electric Memphis Blues, Soul, Regional Blues, Early R&B, Soul-Blues

Album Review

This second volume of Parker's best for the Duke label, while leaving off early classics like "I Wanna Ramble," still delivers on a pile of great early and late tunes for the Houston-based label. Kicking off with the jump blues "Please Baby Blues" and the Howlin' Wolf-like "Can't Understand" from a 1953 session, the early sides vacillate between small rhythm sections with Pat Hare on guitar, to larger ensembles pointing toward Parker's musical future. The early sides reach their peak with the inclusion of "Pretty Baby," recorded in 1956, and Parker's version of Wolf's first single "Riding in the Moonlight." But in two years' time, Junior is recording more R&B-style material like "Barefoot Rock," "You're On My Mind," and culminating in "Annie Get Your YoYo" in 1961. "Get Away Blues" from 1965 and "Man or Mouse" from the following year complete the package. As always, Parker's smooth-as-silk voice and Sonny Boy-derived harp playing carry the day, making a strong case for him as a major mover and shaker on the blues scene during this period.
Cub Koda, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Please Baby Blues [#]
  2. Dirty Friend Blues [#]
  3. Can't Understand [#]
  4. Backtracking [#]
  5. Driving Me Mad [#]
  6. Pretty Baby [#]
  7. Wondering
  8. Barefoot Rock
  9. I'm Holding On
  10. Stranded
  11. Dangerous Woman
  12. You're on My Mind
  13. I'll Forget About You [#]
  14. How Long Can This Go On?
  15. I Feel Alright Again [#]
  16. I Need Love So Bad
  17. Annie Get Your Yo-Yo
  18. These Kind of Blues, Pt. 1
  19. Get Away Blues
  20. Man or Mouse