Review: Charlie Musselwhite – Look Out Highway
Charlie Musselwhite – Look Out Highway
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Forty Below Records
Release: 2025
Text: Bert van Kessel
At 81 years of age, harmonica ace Charlie Musselwhite is still a driving force in the world of blues. And it is not only the harmonica that has earned him numerous awards. On this fine new album he again proves to be an excellent songwriter as well; His storytelling has a natural feel to it, the tracks flow as a matter of course. The songs are thematically connected by ‘the road’. Also, he amply demonstrates his skills as a guitarist and his mature, weathered voice delivers his vocals with sincerity and conviction.
He has recorded ‘Look Out Highway’ with his trusted touring band consisting of guitarist Matt Stubbs, bassist Randy Bermudes and drummer June Core. Also, Kid Andersen, who has been in his band several times, has stunning contributions on keyboards and he is the recording engineer in his own Greaseland Studio in California. These guys are clearly having a lot of fun and take the term ‘tight ’to the next level. Charlie Musselwhite’s music is firmly rooted in Chicago blues and Memphis soul, but he is certainly not afraid to adorn it with strands of contemporary genres.
The title track and album opener tells us immediately what to expect with thrilling harmonica and guitar; and it introduces the theme of the road and being on the move. Sad Eyes is a classic slow blues, with some down and dirty guitar from Matt Stubbs. The infectious shuffle Baby Won’t You Please Help Me contains Charlie’s sharpest harmonica play on the record.
The smoothly rocking Hip Shakin Mama displays some great interplay beteen Stubbs and Andersen. The animated Highway 61 is bluesy and features Kid Andersen excelling on a cheerful barroom piano. The only track Musselwhite didn’t write himself is the radio-friendly and soulful Ready For Times To Get Better, written by Allen Reynolds. It features the talented young singer Edna Nicole who sings with Musselwhite on a couple of verses.
In the immersive slow blues instrumental Blues Lounge Charlie Musselwhite demonstrates his skills on the slide guitar with some searing, but always nuanced chops. Ghosts of Memphis is a surprising track for which he invited renowned rapper Al Kapone to contribute vocals.
There is a lot to be enjoyed on this superb, diverse blues album. Charlie Musselwhite will have to extend his mantelpiece, as he will undoubtedly have another award coming up.
Tracks:
01. Look Out Highway
02. Sad Eyes
03. Storm Warning
04. Baby Won’t You Please Help Me
05. Hip Shakin’ Mama
06. Highway 61
07. Ready For Times To Get Better
08. Ramblin’ Is My Game
09. Blue Lounge
10. Ghosts in Memphis
11. Open Road
Website: https://www.charliemusselwhite.com/