JUNIOR WELLS
Live Around the World
(Legacy)
Live Around the World, like the title suggests, is a compilation of tracks recorded by Junior Wells and his crack band in venues in Europe, Asia and the U.S in '97, less than a year before his death.

And indeed, it's in the U.S., in Boulder, Colorado, that Wells captures the best music, such as it is, on the CD. Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me" begins with an ominous organ flutter that tosses to guitarist Stevie Lizard's spare, soulful backing. Junior comes in quietly, singing, "Ya'll got to help me/People, I can't do it all by myself." The crowd digs it, and the vibe is a good one before too few minutes into the nearly 10-minute track Junior descends into his assortment of vocal pops, growls and unintelligible mannerisms.

In fact, the essence of what's here is Wells' well-oiled blues band being relegated repeatedly to pointless vamping while Wells' vocals and harp stumble and sprawl. "Broke and Hungry" is James Brown-funky until Wells jumps into the middle of it all, demonstrating just how badly the song needs a dynamite singer. "Messin' with the Kid," his signature tune, is treated to a streamlined 3:37 of horn-driven boogie, the way Junior showcased it over and over during his career.

For a better slice of live Wells, Alone & Acoustic with Buddy Guy is recommended instead. Brian Briscoe [buy it]

For fans of: early James Cotton, Kim Wilson, Lazy Lester