Published on Aug 4, 1999
Lil’ Ed Williams is a living success story. When he and his
band, the Blues Imperials, were selected to appear on a compilation
of blues bands, they arrived at the studio and plowed through three
songs, each in one take. The label’s owner was so impressed that he
offered the band a contract on the spot, and with their remaining
studio time, they cut their debut album,
Roughhousin’.
It’s been a few years since Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials
have been heard from, and while their latest album
Get Wild! is a welcome return for this band, it’s almost
like some of the spontaneous fun this band embodied has passed
along with time.
Williams is a superb guitar player, and can work a slide like no
other these days. The rest of the band – guitarist Michael Garrett,
bassist (and half-brother to Williams) James “Pookie” Young and
drummer Kelly Littleton – are no slouches themselves, and they
continually lay down grooves that will make you want to get up and
dance.
But if you’re looking for the good-time blues that was heard on
songs like “Chicken, Gravy & Biscuits” (from the album of the
same name), you might be a little disappointed. Williams and crew
still play more contemporary blues, but their subject matter is a
little more serious on
Get Wild! than one might have expected.
There still are the pleasers on this disc, like the opening
track “Singing Slide”, “Compact Man” and the irresistable “Get
Out!”. And while I can’t say I followed the story told on “The
Monkey And The Rabbit,” it too is another song that should put a
smile on your face.
But for the most part, Williams and crew stick to more
straight-laced blues. While this is a bit of a letdown for me
personally, the band makes the best of the material at hand, with
songs like “She Don’t Love Me No More,” “Change My Way Of Living”,
“The Cannonball” and “Nothing I Wouldn’t Do” all standing out.
The only real mis-fire here is the last song, “Pet Cream Man,” a
song which I have no friggin’ idea what it’s supposed to be about.
Sorry, gang, but this is a song that could have been left on the
cutting room floor.
It’s not that Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials were the crown
princes of lighthearted blues; if anything, their music was more of
a celebration of life.
Get Wild! somewhat continues in this pace, albeit more
slowly.