Let The Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan (1999)
18 tracks, 60 minutes
Spotify • iTunes
Louis Jordan was a fantastic musician who has been featured on this blog before. Of course, I love his work, and it’s clear that I’m not the only one. Jordan had/has legions of famous fans and his compositions and influence spread far and wide. This album of B.B. King playing 18 of Louis Jordan’s hits is a great example of this.
This was another album purchased at that gone-and-apparently-forgotten Lyme Regis second-hand record shop that always seemed to have some gold in it, and I remember being absolutely thrilled when I found this album in their racks, and I wasn’t disappointed. Where Jordan’s originals were a midpoint between blues and jazz, B.B. skews it towards the former, and it’s really nice to hear that subtle difference as opposed to just a bunch of straight-up covers. The jazz isn’t abandoned, and the contributions of some great musicians help to keep the music sited within the jive realm, but B.B.’s immediately recognisable guitarwork and vocals add a special edge to the whole thing.
I also have to mention the great work of Dr John on this album. He plays piano throughout, and adds guest vocals to the song ‘Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby’, adding a wry irony to the original song’s plot, along with his own absolutely delicious Louisiana accent. Dr John is an artist that I absolutely love in general, and to hear him playing alongside a legend like B.B. King and performing all the hits from another of my favourite artists is just great. That song is so good, it even ended up winning a Grammy all to itself, for ‘Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.’
Cover albums can sometimes be a bit hit-and-miss, but a legendary blues guitarist playing the songs of probably the best jump-jive composer ever, with wonderful contributions from an amazing New Orleans pianist…well, I’m not too surprised that this album turned out so well.
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