by Nick DeRiso
While the performances on “Johnny Shines and Robert Lockwood,” from Shreveport, Louisiana’s Paula Records, are first-rate, unfortunately the sound quality early on is spotty.
Some of the source material was slightly damaged on the Shines sides, resulting in a couple of gurgly spots where the sound falls out completely. Sit tight, however, This eventually works out.
In fact, by the time the immortal “Cool Driver” pokes its head out, “Shines and Lockwood” has fully acquited itself.
Shines plays in a duo for about half of his cuts — with spare bass backing by Moody Jones, according to Shines. Later, Walter Horton provides some swaying, sometimes chugging, harp antics.
Robert Jr. Lockwood, stepson of Robert Johnson, roars in at the midway point — with a set far removed from his more common solo acoustic sides. A real find. His take on “Dust My Broom,” for instance, is inspired: Lockwood thrillingly adlibs his way through the chorus, singing … “If she’s not in Chicago, then she’s in east Monroe.”
Sunnyland Slim sits in for a few tracks — and to great effect. His gosh-dawg, jooky finger-rolls are immediately recognizeable.
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