The Wham of That Memphis Man!

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Performer: Lonnie Mack
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Nobody played guitar better than Lonnie Mack in his heyday, and his feral whammy-bar-riding sound has influenced countless shredders from Johnny Thunders to Stevie Ray Vaughn. Originally released in 1963 on Fraternity Records, this fantastic Ace Records reissue of Lonnie Mack's debut burst of energy, THE WHAM OF THAT MEMPHIS MAN, restores the song sequence and mono sound of the original. Contains his hit version of "Memphis" by Chuck Berry. Lonnie Mack cut his first album, The Wham of That Memphis Man, in 1963 after his instrumental version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" became an unexpected hit. In 1970, after Mack had recorded a pair of fine albums for Elektra Records, the label had Bruce Botnick remix the debut album in stereo and they reissued it under the title For Collectors Only. Regardless of the name, Mack's first album is a soulful stew of hot guitar picking and blue-eyed blues wailing that finds a comfortable and satisfying middle ground between country, R&B, and rock & roll. Mack's rough, blazing guitar tone and high-speed picking steal the show on numbers like "Wham," "Chicken Pickin'," and "Bounce," but Mack was more than just a flashy guitarist; his versions of "Where There's a Will There's a Way," "I'll Keep You Happy," and "Further on Down the Road" show he was a top-rank white soul shouter, and he could write a great tune when he felt like it, as "Why" and a clutch of inspired instrumentals on this LP make clear. Mack had a tight and sympathetic band for these sessions (including Ron Grayson on drums and Wayne Bullock on bass), and the performances are soulful and in-the-pocket throughout, giving Mack plenty of room to strut his stuff with all the support he needed. Cut at a time when an album usually featured a couple hit singles and a bunch of padding, The Wham of That Memphis Man/For Collectors Only is surprisingly satisfying stuff, an early triumph in white-boy blues with a truly superior guitarist and singer in the spotlight. ~ Mark Deming This is a reissue of Mack's first album for Fraternity in 1964, the one thousands of guitarists cut their teeth on. Muddy Waters once sang, "The blues had a baby and they named the baby rock & roll." This is the album that proves it. Instrumental versions of R&B hits ("Memphis," "Susie Q," "The Bounce") rebound against heartfelt soul numbers ("Farther Down the Road," "Why?") right next to dazzling fretboard blues romps both slow and fast ("Wham!," "Down and Out"). Mack sings his rear end off, the band -- with saxes and Hammond organ and pumping soul bass -- is right in there and Mack's vibrato-drenched guitar stings, wounds, and amazes. It remains his defining moment. ~ Cub Koda

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