Chris Thomas KING - 21st Century Blues...From da' Hood 1995

Chris Thomas KING - 21st Century Blues...From da' Hood 1995

Blues

I hate RAP and I hate HIP HOP, yet I love this CD. Not only is this an outragous mix of 2 styles that arn't meant to be mixed, whats more it is a brilliant success. Intelligent lyrics with a message and a valid lament from THE HOOD by someone who seems to know. The musik is the usual brilliant BLUES with a very hard edge and the RAP and storytelling actually add to the overall effect. It took a number of listens to get into this hybrid, but it has so much originality and quality that it will get under your skin. Don't be scared by the use of RAP, this CD cooks and sizzles and does not insult your intelligence. An unusual masterpiece by one of the most talented exponents of blues.
By  Hans D. HARMS.
**
Tony Braunagel- Percussion
Lester Butler- Harmonica
Reggie McBride- Bass
John Porter- Guitar, Producer
Chris Thomas- Guitar, Vocals
Mick Weaver- Organ
**
01. Intro (Thomas)  0:05
02. 21cb (Thomas)  3:36
03. Hellhounds (Thomas)  0:16
04. Kkkrossroads (Thomas)  3:29
05. Kickin' True Blue (Thomas)  4:08
06. Up from da Underground (Thomas)  3:16
07. Blues from da 'Hood (Thomas)  6:07
08. Da Gambler (Thomas)  5:08
09. Time Bomb (Thomas)  3:34
10. Homesick Blues (Thomas)  6:18
11. Phone Interlude (Thomas)  0:30
12. My Pain, Your Pleasure (Thomas)  4:23
13. Kill Somebody (Thomas)  3:42
14. Anotherdeadhomie (Thomas)  0:33
15. Stop (Thomas)  8:33
**
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Chris Thomas KING & Blind Mississippi MORRIS - Along The Blues Highway 2003

Chris Thomas KING & Blind Mississippi MORRIS - Along The Blues Highway 2003

Blues

Every so often there is an album that just jumps out at you, "Along the Blues Highway", is a wonderful return to those days when our parents and grandparents enjoyed the music of times, BLUES! A CD that gives you the roots of America then, right up to the present time.

Chris Thomas King takes the listener into the 21st Century of Blues with "RED MUD", "I'M ON FIRE", "ME, MY GUITAR AND THE BLUES" and "O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU", all compositions penned by Mr. King reflecting his deep commitment in keeping blues right up there where we can see and hear it,remember King from the film "O Brother Where Art Thou", when he traded his soul for guitar lessons. Great film and wonderful performance by Chris.

Blind Mississippi Morris opens with a head banging blues cue "DUST MY BROOM", followed by a rhythmic tune "YOU KNOW I LIKE THAT", next we have a cha cha tempo "WILLIE", now the joints jumping so put your dancin' shoes on with "BEALE STREET TONIGHT", now why not try on some funky tunes as we listen "BAD TO WORSE", get ready to board the bus as we're "GOING BACK TO LOUISIANA", this takes care of our mojo.

Great job by Varese Records featuring the rockin' bluesman King and funky bluesman Morris with total enjoyment of some rare performances sure to please all ages among our fans, Blues is alive and well...gotta love it!
By J. Lovins.
**
This split CD of live performances from Chris Thomas King and Blind Mississippi Morris features two excellent, but very different, approaches to the blues. King's acoustic set was recorded at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival in 2001. On King's excellent set he tackles seven originals on slide guitar, including "Red Mud," "I'm on Fire," and "O' Brother Where Art Thou." Morris was caught the same year but at a different location: the Sunflower Blues Festival in Clarksdale, MS. Backed by his working band, this set features electric workouts on the originals "Beale Street Tonight," "You Know I Like That," "Willie," "Bad to Worse," "Night Roads," along with the obligatory "Dust My Broom." King and Morris prove that the blues is alive and well and in good hands going into the new millennium. By Al Campbell.

CHRIS THOMAS KING
Live at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival

01. Red Mud
02. Why
03. Soon This Morning Blues
04. I’m On Fire
05. Alive
06. Me, My Guitar And The Blues
07. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

BLIND MISSISSIPPI MORRIS
Live from the Sunflower Blues Festival
in Clarksdale, Mississippi

08. Dust My Broom
09. You Know I Like That
10. Willie
11. Beale Street Tonight
12. Bad To Worse
13. Night Roads
14. Going Back to Louisiana
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Chris Thomas KING - Red Mud Sessions 1998

Chris Thomas KING - Red Mud Sessions 1998
Label: 21st Century / Black Top

Blues

Red Mud the CD by Chris Thomas King demonstrates why he is a rising new star of the blues. Although he is neither young or new at thirty eight and having put in his apprenticeship touring with his father Tabby Thomas. During this time he certainly developed a good feel for the spirit of the blues and aptly demonstrates this on the cd. King is both a skillful guitarist and songwriter. On the cd of the fourteen songs, nine are originals. You can definitely feel the delta ooze on the title track of Red Mud. The cuts of his fathers songs Hoodoo Party and Bus Station Blues with vocals by Tabby Thomas are wonderful.
By  Booknblueslady.
**
Red Mud Sessions is a tweaked and reordered reissue of 1998's Red Mud, which is out of print in its original form. This version of the record omits two tracks that were a poor fit both musically and conceptually with the rest of the album, covers of songs by Chris Thomas King's father, Tabby Thomas, "Hoodoo Party" and "Bus Station Blues," which featured the elder Thomas on electric lead. Those two songs were entertaining enough, but in the context of Red Mud, they stuck out like a pair of cheeseburgers on a platter of ribs. Red Mud Sessions collects the rest of the album, which is a strictly acoustic solo recording of King and a battery of vintage resonator and metal-top guitars. King makes the connection plain by including solid but unexceptional versions of Son House's "Death Letter Blues" and a pair of Robert Johnson tracks, but even the original material sounds like King is deliberately channeling the early country blues of the '30s. It's unsurprising that not long after this album was recorded, the formerly progressive-oriented King was tapped to play a '30s-vintage bluesman in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Those who already have the original Red Mud don't need to buy Red Mud Sessions, but it's an enjoyable listen to anyone who liked King's role in that film.
By Stewart Mason, All Music Guide.
**
Tabby Thomas- Guitar, Vocals,
Darryl White- Drums,
Chris Thomas King- Bass, Guitar, Harmonica, Percussion, Strings, Keyboards, Vocals, Talk Box,
David Tarantolo- Organ
**
01.Red Mud (4:09)
02.It Ain't One Thing, It's Two (3:58)
03.Soon This Morning Blues (3:48)
04.Come On In My Kitchen (4:23)
05.I'm On Fire (3:30)
06.Sinking Feeling (3:01)
07.Alive (3:42)
08.Dark Cloud (3:18)
09.Hoodoo Party (3:42)
10.Rambling On My Mind (3:04)
11.Wanna Die with A Smile On My Face (2:52)
12.Death Letter Blues (5:26)
13.Bus Station Blues (4:04)
14.Raining Angels (4:57)
**
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Chris Thomas KING - It's A Cold-Ass World, The Beginning 1986

Chris Thomas KING - It's A Cold-Ass World, The Beginning 1986
Original Release Date: August 14, 2001
Label: Arhoolie
Recorded at Reel To Reel Sound Factory, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1986

Blues

King's debut album was released in 1986 when he was still billed as Chris Thomas. It's quality modern blues that sounds cognizant of contemporary trends without being forced. Largely written by King, the songs are reasonably satisfying electric blues that admit some influences from modern blues-rock players, particularly Jimi Hendrix, as well as a bit of funk and rock in the rhythm. At the same time he ground out some down-home gutbucket boogie blues that would be at home in a Southern roadhouse, like "Soon This Morning" and "Take Yo Time," and Chuck Berry-type songwriting with "Mary Jane." The rhythm section can sound a little flat and under-recorded, but at least underproduction serves this sort of music better than overproduction does. The record was reissued on CD, billed to Chris Thomas King under the new title It's a Cold Ass World -- The Beginning, on Arhoolie in 2001, with new historical liner notes.
By Richie Unterberger, AMG.
**
This is a CD reissue of King's debut album, released in 1986 as simply The Beginning, when he was still billed as Chris Thomas. It's quality modern blues that sounds cognizant of contemporary trends without being forced. Largely written by King, the songs are reasonably satisfying electric blues that admit some influences from modern blues-rock players, particularly Jimi Hendrix, as well as a bit of funk and rock in the rhythm. At the same time, he grounds out some down-home gutbucket boogie blues that would be at home in a Southern roadhouse, like "Soon This Morning" and "Take Yo Time," and Chuck Berry-type songwriting with "Mary Jane." The rhythm section can sound a little flat and under-recorded, but at least underproduction serves this sort of music better than overproduction does.
By Richie Unterberger, AMG.

Chris Thomas King- (Vocals, Guitar);
Joe Hunter- (Bass);
Tasmmy Thomas- (Drums).
**
01. The Blues Is Back 3:37
02. Soon In The Morning 3:48
03. Cheatin' Women Blues 4:38
04. Cocaine 6:28
05. Mary Jane 2:54
06. Take Yo Time 3:44 
07. Going Home To Louisana 3:43
08. South Side Shuffle 1:44
09. You'll Be Sorry, Babe 8:19
10. Don't Work To Hard 3:16
**
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