Well into his 70’s, Louisiana Red, aka Iverson Minter, is still one of the most direct lines back to Muddy, John Lee, and Elmore. Bathed in the warm tubes of Notodden’s retro Juke Joint Studios, the sound of Red and his friend Little Victor revives the days of 2120 South Michigan Ave. Little Victor assembled a song list from Red’s extensive catalogue and all-star musicians who understand Red’s idiosyncratic tendencies.
Since Red always mixes his life or world events into his songs, listeners will always feel an intimate meeting has taken place between Red and themselves. The record opens with just such an tune, “I’m Louisiana Red.” Backed by Kim Wilson’s deep harp, Reidar Larsen’s Spann styled piano, and Victor’s second guitar, Red tells the world of his life including the death of his mot her within a week of his birth. The music stays rooted in the murky, stop time Chicago blues on “Alabama Train.” Here, Dave Maxwell accents the treble keys and Bob Corritore evokes Red’s harmonica gods.
On “Crime In Motion,” Red pulls riffs from his Elmore James bag as Victor and Maxwell plug into the sound anarchy of those days. As with most players who moved from Mississippi to Chicago, Red’s vocals carry the emotional urgency learned in the Delta. “Too Poor to Die”, a Red original resurrected from his 1964 Glover sessions authenticates that spirit.
The rest of the record follows similar patterns. Many of his songs employ a familiar melody from his Chess mentors. Musically, the title cut is “Rollin’ Stone,” but the lyrics come from Red’s life. “Sweet Leg Girl,” with Jostein Forsberg on harp and Maxwell again sitting in Spann’s seat, employs the heavy backbeat that made Muddy’s early Chess work so ear catching. “You Done Quit Me” has traces of Muddy’s “Trouble No More” and “I Come From Louisiana,” first recorded for Roulette in the 1960’s, evokes Muddy’s “Mojo.”
On “Roamin’ Stranger,” Red and Victor conjure Robert Johnson’s “Steady Rollin’ Man” in a two guitar blend. The record ends with “At The Zanzibar,” Red’s time travelin’ tribute to his visit in 1950 to Muddy’s home club. Here, Red plays Muddy’s slide, Victor handles Jimmy Rodgers’ parts and Wilson breathes the finest Little Walter harmonica in this instrumental whiz. The music in the movie Cadillac Records replicates the days of Chess Records. Buy this instead and hear the genuine sound of one who was there.