Charley Musselwhite’s Southside Blues Band - Stand Back

Whitey sings the blues

Musselwhite’s magnificent 1967 solo blues debut was made all the more startling because he was just 22 when he recorded it. Yet Stand Back belies Musselwhite’s maturity and knowledge. In some ways it was a shocking album for its time. After all, here was a white man, admittedly playing with black musicians, but taking hold of the blues genre by the scruff of its neck. Each song, however, including Strange Land and Christo Redemptor, is always credible, always believable. Featuring Musselwhite on harmonica and vocals, he was ably supported by Harvey Mandel on guitar, with both piano and organ played by Barry Goldberg, with a rhythm section of Bob Anderson on bass and Fred Below Jr on drums.

Pure Pleasure/Vanguard | VSD 79232V

Reviewed by Paul Rigby
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