One day, a black man in a feathered Indian headdress and four white guys in masks of Mexican wrestlers met… It sounds like the beginning of an unfunny joke or a forbidden fairy tale for adults, doesn’t it? Sit down by the campfire, guys, and start frying marshmallows, you’re going to have the real story right now.
Six million years ago, in 1920, the wisest government of the United States of America invited a monster named Prohibition to its country. This monster not only got drunk many of those who had drunk little or in moderation before his arrival, but also enriched his favorite fabulous creatures, the pasta makers and their leaders, the bookholders. But that wasn’t enough, and in 1929, Sukhoi married a monster called the Great Depression. To celebrate this event, brokers began to fly out of the most prestigious windows of skyscrapers like moths. For Blacks, the situation hardly changed. His moonshine, his mutual settlements, his ways up the great Mississippi to Chicago, or even on the rails to New York, where the great Duke Ellington reigned.
The Harrington family managed to survive and was as light-footed as any other black and white pawns on the South’s board. Eddie was born on January 10, 1935, a couple of days after Elvis, in Macon, Mississippi. The guy was raised by his grandmother (nee half Cherokee), but that’s how it should be in any family where parents work without relying on the services of governesses. 13 years later, the Harringtons moved to Alabama, where Eddie began to master the guitar, turning it over under his left hand. Two years later, he begged his father to let him go to Chicago, where he enthusiastically began washing dishes, staying with his uncle and getting to know the stars of the blues scene who came to visit. Back in Alabama, Eddie accompanied the Blind Boys Of Alabama, but here he saw a completely different scale and a different approach to sound production. Not to mention that the guitars of the Chicago bluesmen were connected to amplifiers.
When Chuck Berry developed his guitar style, many aspiring musicians began to imitate him with varying degrees of courage and skill. Eddie Harrington recorded his own single “Hillbilly Blues” under a strange pseudonym fighting Muddy Waters: Clear Waters. By that time, Eddie was successfully imitating Chuck, and the accompanying band sounded very confident. Later, the pseudonym would transform into “Clearwater,” and Eddie Pure Water would become a legend in Chicago clubs: her great-grandmother was a turkey, just like a Cherokee. That’s why they’ll call him the Leader. Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater quickly developed his clear water style, playing blues in a manner accessible to a white listener. Due to the ease of presentation, to which nosy critics were not accustomed, the guitarist increasingly traveled to Europe to perform.
Meanwhile, Los Straitjackets, tired of being silent for seven albums, were looking for someone to sing with… Who would look as weird as them? The experiment was a success when they called Eddie Clearwater. Kids, if you’re out of marshmallows, catch the rodents and eat softly, now there will be music!
You’re Humbuggin’ Me is the most magnificent jump blues with an impeccable rhythm section and a laughing saxophone, although it loses in rigidity to the fierce Rod “Rocket” Morgan with his original from 1958.
Ding Dong Daddy is a broken boogie with an ambiguous name. Los Straitjackets deliver a powerful, almost jazzy groove.
Lonesome Town has nothing to do with Ricky Nelson‘s hit. It’s a surprisingly cheeky blues noir, where it feels like the vocalist is crawling on the ceiling, and the saxophonist seems to have too long fangs.
Hillbilly Blues has already been mentioned, but here is a fresh version of that failed hit. Nothing happened, it’s still the same Berry-inspired action movie.
Monkey Paw is really good for its surfy exoticism, flavored with a saxophone that takes the party to David Lynch‘s hut. That’s when the minor changes to a major. And even if the host is absent, the party will continue.
Back Down To Earth is an unexpected performance from a black rockabilly artist. And very emotional. Not flaming, but smoldering. The bassist picked up the double bass.
Before This Song Is Over is a touching southern soul from among those that Elvis admired.
Old Time Rocker is another rockabilly with a slap double bass. And with groovy roll calls at the end.
Midnight Groove is completely instrumental and one of the best. Fast-paced rhythm and blues, to which cars are hijacked and girls are kissed.
I Love You is an even more beautiful southern soul ending too early.
Let The Four Winds Blow is a Fats Domino song, and here you can feel the joy inherent in his songs.
Peggy Sue is still with us, even though Buddy is gone. And it’s another beautiful song, a little bit country, a little bit blues, a little bit rockabilly.
Good Times Are Coming is a version of “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” decorated by a single electric organ, only in this version of the text, everything is lousy for people today, but tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, or in a week everything will get better, and Santa will drive up in a white Cadillac with a trunk of gifts.
The album was so successful that it was nominated for a Grammy. The lop-eared critics finally noticed Eddie Clearwater, and a gang of tomboys in masks decided to continue the experiments of collaborations. Therefore, stock up on marshmallows and rodents, kids, the next evening around the campfire awaits us!
