MIKE GRIFFIN & THE UNKNOWN BLUES BAND
''GIMME WHAT I GOT COMIN'''
1993
40:47
1 - Give Me What I Got Comin'/3:09
2 - Been There, Done That/4:04
3 - Blues Will Never Die/5:16
4 - I Just Can't Get Enough/4:07
5 - Fifth Of Whiskey, Case Of The Blues/4:34
6 - Queen Of New Orleans/3:26
7 - T.V. Mama/3:15
8 - Black Cat Scratchin'/5:31
9 - You Got The Best Thing/3:52
10 - Stretched Out/3:08
Mike Griffin/Vocals, Guitars
Larry Emmons/Bass Guitar
Raymond Massey/Drums
John Anthony/Piano
TN'T/Horns
Dennis Taylor/Sax
Terry Townsend/Trumpet
Moe Denham/Hammond B3 Organ
REVIEW
By Frank-John Hadley
a striking second Waldoxy-Malaco album by Griffin and his Unkown Blues Band that has solid material, expert musicianship, variocolored shades of blues feeling, excellent production values and, importantly, personality -- everything one cold ask for from players whos artistic honesty is beyong reproach. The stirring title track, Gimme What I Got Comin', derived from one of Malaco Records' stable songwriters, its exemplary UBB-style blues. Griffin's low-down voice works like a battering ram, its dramatic properties echoed by his stinging Albert King-through-Mike Bloomfield guitar commentaries. The powerful slow tempo Blues Will Never Die, penned by Griffin and his longtime collaborator Larry Emmons, has perfectly infected guitar phrases that tremble the heart of anyone who harbors thoughts of lost love. Queen of New Orleans, an enjoyable excursion to R&B turf, and Chicago blues-slanted rendition of Big Joe Turner'sT.V. Mama, among other performances, hightlight the bristling vitality that goes with his slide work.
The musical comaraderie between the guitarist and Hammond B-3 specialist Moe Denham on this program of originals and turns from Malaco storehouse is something special, with each player's solo dovetaling as versions of the same poignant happy-sad story. Larry Emmerson on bass and drummer Raymond Massey, a relative newcomer to the group, stay wonderfully alert and responsive to their friends at all times. So do guest pianist John Anthony and the TN'T Horns, those first-rate purveyors of soul spice aka Denise Taylor and Terry Townson.
"Rousing" and "Entertainment." Place them together and you've just described Big Mike Griffin's last recording."
ABOUT BIG MIKE GRIFFIN
Big Mike Griffin grew up in southern Oklahoma, where he was introduced to music at an early age. " My Dad played so there was always a guitar or fiddle laying around the house. It seems like I've been playing as long as I've been alive." Later, he began listening to blues artists like T-Bone Walker, Paul Butterfield, and Mike Bloomfield. His blues education was further enhanced by late night highway trips to Texas to catch legends like Freddie King, Albert King, and Albert Collins.
When the economy faltered in Oklahoma, Griffin set out for Nashville where he began playing wherever he could while finding players along the way who would make up the nucleus of the Unknown Blues Band. As their popularity grew, the band began to appear in front of larger audiences and to perform at such prestigious festivals as the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the W.C. Handy Festival. They also expanded their regular touring schedule, travelled to the East Coast and then out West.
''GIMME WHAT I GOT COMIN'''
1993
40:47
1 - Give Me What I Got Comin'/3:09
2 - Been There, Done That/4:04
3 - Blues Will Never Die/5:16
4 - I Just Can't Get Enough/4:07
5 - Fifth Of Whiskey, Case Of The Blues/4:34
6 - Queen Of New Orleans/3:26
7 - T.V. Mama/3:15
8 - Black Cat Scratchin'/5:31
9 - You Got The Best Thing/3:52
10 - Stretched Out/3:08
Mike Griffin/Vocals, Guitars
Larry Emmons/Bass Guitar
Raymond Massey/Drums
John Anthony/Piano
TN'T/Horns
Dennis Taylor/Sax
Terry Townsend/Trumpet
Moe Denham/Hammond B3 Organ
REVIEW
By Frank-John Hadley
a striking second Waldoxy-Malaco album by Griffin and his Unkown Blues Band that has solid material, expert musicianship, variocolored shades of blues feeling, excellent production values and, importantly, personality -- everything one cold ask for from players whos artistic honesty is beyong reproach. The stirring title track, Gimme What I Got Comin', derived from one of Malaco Records' stable songwriters, its exemplary UBB-style blues. Griffin's low-down voice works like a battering ram, its dramatic properties echoed by his stinging Albert King-through-Mike Bloomfield guitar commentaries. The powerful slow tempo Blues Will Never Die, penned by Griffin and his longtime collaborator Larry Emmons, has perfectly infected guitar phrases that tremble the heart of anyone who harbors thoughts of lost love. Queen of New Orleans, an enjoyable excursion to R&B turf, and Chicago blues-slanted rendition of Big Joe Turner'sT.V. Mama, among other performances, hightlight the bristling vitality that goes with his slide work.
The musical comaraderie between the guitarist and Hammond B-3 specialist Moe Denham on this program of originals and turns from Malaco storehouse is something special, with each player's solo dovetaling as versions of the same poignant happy-sad story. Larry Emmerson on bass and drummer Raymond Massey, a relative newcomer to the group, stay wonderfully alert and responsive to their friends at all times. So do guest pianist John Anthony and the TN'T Horns, those first-rate purveyors of soul spice aka Denise Taylor and Terry Townson.
"Rousing" and "Entertainment." Place them together and you've just described Big Mike Griffin's last recording."
ABOUT BIG MIKE GRIFFIN
Big Mike Griffin grew up in southern Oklahoma, where he was introduced to music at an early age. " My Dad played so there was always a guitar or fiddle laying around the house. It seems like I've been playing as long as I've been alive." Later, he began listening to blues artists like T-Bone Walker, Paul Butterfield, and Mike Bloomfield. His blues education was further enhanced by late night highway trips to Texas to catch legends like Freddie King, Albert King, and Albert Collins.
When the economy faltered in Oklahoma, Griffin set out for Nashville where he began playing wherever he could while finding players along the way who would make up the nucleus of the Unknown Blues Band. As their popularity grew, the band began to appear in front of larger audiences and to perform at such prestigious festivals as the King Biscuit Blues Festival and the W.C. Handy Festival. They also expanded their regular touring schedule, travelled to the East Coast and then out West.
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