James Cotton - Cotton Mouth Man

Cotton Mouth Man Review by Steve Leggett

Blues harp maestro James Cotton was 77 at the time of this album's release. He can barely sing anymore, and the years of playing and touring have left his voice a hoarse croak, but make no mistake, he can still play the harp, and his stunning, overdriven blasts on the instrument are as powerful and as immediate as ever. He's the living embodiment of the Chicago blues, and one of the genre's last surviving founders of it, having mentored with the great Sonny Boy Williamson, and he recorded, played, and toured with Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, cutting his first sides at the age of 19 for Chess Records. He's done this a long time, and as this delightful, joyous, stomping, and vibrant set shows, he doesn't need to sing to command the stage. Cotton wrote or co-wrote most of the songs here with the album's producer, Tom Hambridge, and the vocals are handled by guest artists, most of them by Darrell Nulisch, the former Texas Heat and Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets vocalist who has been handling the singing duties for Cotton's band for some time now, but Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Ruthie Foster, Delbert McClinton, and Keb' Mo' are also featured singers. But this isn't one of those duets albums that artists make in the twilight of their careers by any shot -- Cotton is amazing on these cuts, his harp blasts full of passion, power, and enough pure energy to light up the night sky. Cotton may not do somersaults on stage anymore, but his harp lines do, weaving in and out of these songs like a charging Chicago freight train. There isn't a single lame cut here, but the closer, "Bonnie Blue," with Cotton croaking out a moving vocal accompanied only by his harp and the resonator guitar playing of Colin Linden, is particularly poignant. Cotton may be cruising in on 80 years of age, but he's just released one of the best albums of his career.

James Cotton

Insatiable showman, blues singer, and ace harp man kept his high-energy act alive for over a half century.

Read Full Biography

James Cotton - Cotton Mouth Man

0:00 Cotton Mouth Man Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Darrell Nulisch Lead Guitar - Joe Bonamassa Rhythm Guitar - Rob McNelley Bass - Tommy Macdonald Drums and background vocals - Tom Hambridge

3:47 Midnight Train Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Gregg Allman Guitar - Tom Holland Bass - Noel Neal Drums and background vocals - Tom Hambridge Piano - Chuck Leavell

7:13 Mississippi Mud Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Keb' Mo' Guitar - Rob McNelley Upright bass - Glenn Worf Drums and percussion - Tom Hambridge Piano - Chuck Leavell

11:13 He Was There Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Darrell Nulisch Guitar - Tom Holland Bass - Noel Neal Drums - Jerry Porter Piano - Chuck Leavell

14:56 Something For Me Harmonica - James Cotton Guitar and vocals - Warren Haynes Guitar - Tom Holland Bass - Noel Neal Drums and percussion - Tom Hambridge Piano - Chuck Leavell

18:36 Wrapped Around My Heart Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Ruthie Foster Guitar - Rob McNelley Bass - Glenn Worf Percussion - Tom Hambridge Organ - Chuck Leavell

21:59 Saint On Sunday Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Darrell Nulisch Guitar - Rob McNelley Bass - Glenn Worf Drums - Tom Hambridge Piano - Chuck Leavell

25:30 Hard Sometimes Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Delbert McClinton Guitar - Rob McNelley Upright bass - Glenn Worf Drums - Tom Hambridge

28:46 Young Bold Women Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Darrell Nulisch Guitar - Rob McNelley Upright bass - Glenn Worf Drums and percussion - Tom Hambridge Organ - Chuck Leavell

32:10 Bird Nest On The Ground Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Darrell Nulisch Guitar - Tom Holland Bass - Noel Neal Drums and percussion - Tom Hambridge Piano - Chuck Leavell

36:28 Wasn't My Time To Go Harmonica - James Cotton Guitar and vocals - Keb' Mo' Guitar - Rob McNelley Upright bass - Glenn Worf Piano - Chuck Leavell

40:43 Blues Is Good For You Harmonica - James Cotton Vocals - Darrell Nulisch Guitar - Rob McNelley Bass - Glenn Worf Drums and percussion - Tom Hambridge Keyboards - Chuck Leavell

45:07 Bonnie Blue Harmonica and vocals - James Cotton Resonator guitar - Colin Linden

Label: P-Vine Records - PCD-93714 Year: 2013