The Last Shade of Blue Before Black (Severn Records) by The Original Blues Brothers Band Featuring Steve “The Colonel” Cropper and “Blue Lou” Marini is a 14- track balls-to-the-wall frenetic nerve-wracker, recorded in beautiful, downtown Hoboken. It features a host of hot guests in lieu of Jake and Elwood Blues all pan-fried into constant sizzle, like Dr. John on his own “Qualified,” Stax legend Eddie Floyd “On A Saturday Night,” and the ultimate wisdom of “Don’t Forget About James Brown” plus blues icon, Joe Louis Walker, on Willie Dixon’s, “Don’t Go No Further.” Because they practice what they preach, they also do James Brown’s “Sex Machine” as arranged by
Paul Schaffer. Dan Penn’s “You Left The Water Running,” Fats Waller’s “Your Feet’s Too Big,” Delbert McClinton’s “Cherry Street” and Jimmy Reed’s “Baby What You Want Me To Do” are all highlights. This thing rocks!