Otis Spann - Otis Spann Is The Blues
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Otis Spann (piano and vocals : A1, A3, A5, B1, B3, B5) [click here to see more vinyl featuring Otis Spann]
Robert Lockwood Jr. (guitar and vocals : A2, A4, B2, B4)
Written by Otis Spann (A1, A3, A5, B1, B3, B5), Robert Lockwood Jr. (A2, A4, B2, B4)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Limited edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : Pure Pleasure Records
Original Label : Candid
Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York, August 23rd 1960 by George Piro
Produced by Nat Hentoff
Originally released in January 1961
Re-mastered by Ray Staff at Alchemy
Reissued in 2017
Tracks :
Side A :
Side B :
Reviews :
« Otis Spann may not have been the blues, but he was sure close to being the blues pianist. Spann provided wonderful, imaginative, tasty piano solos and better-than-average vocals, and was arguably the best player whose style was more restrained than animated. Not that he couldn't rock the house, but Spann's forte was making you think as well as making you dance, and the tracks on Otis Spann Is the Blues will do both. » AllMusic Review by Ron Wynn
« NOT only is there no doubting that Otis Spann is one of the finest exponents of Chicago Blues piano ever, there can also be little doubt that this record, originally released by Candid Records in 1960, is one of the best recordings of Spann as a front man.
He was normally considered to be Muddy Waters' accompanist and yet he was a great lyrical story teller in the Blues idiom in his own right. On this recording, he shares vocal duties with Robert Lockwood Junior, who also plays the guitars and the interplay between the two men is tangible.
The instrumental duet within the track, "Beat Up Team", when Spann says, "Watch out Brother Robert" and launches into a piano solo which is more than ably answered by Lockwood on the guitar, is a joy and during the intro of the following track, "My Daily Wish", the duelling continues in a musical symbiosis which lifts the album well above the ordinary.
A great example of the genre and some damn fine tunes. Hard to list stand out tracks as they are all so good, however, "Otis In The Dark" with its piano solo by Spann, "Beat Up Team" and "My Daily Wish" are archetypal Blues songs and the album's closing song, "Worried Life Blues", sums it all up. » Daily Express Review 2014 by Paul Stewart
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 , Discogs : 4.33 / 5