Charlie Musselwhite - One Night in America

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Music reviews of One Night in America

Music Review: A walk down Main Street with Mr. Mellow
Rating: 5 Stars

Musselwhite first came on the music scene in the 1960's in Chicago and like Paul Butterfield helped to redifine a rocknroll which would celebrate its blues music roots. Charlie always held onto the essence of the rural roots music rather than the more urban blues. Musselwhite ever retains the "good ole' boy" sound to his music and One Night in American is certainly a trip through the heartland. In the liner notes Musselwhite states that growing up in Memphis he was influenced by sounds of "blues, gospel and hillbilly on the radio." We can hear echoes of all these music forms on the cd. Charlie Musselwhite says that he has always rebelled against the tightly defined blues format and believes that music can be classified as blues more by the feeling than the format. Despite his laid back, pleasant style Charlie is able to deliver plenty of feeling on this cd.

One Night in America includes songs by blues greats as Ivory Joe Hunter and Jimmy Reed and country songs by Johnny Cash and Kieran Kane as well as Musselwhite originals. Through it all is the feeling of walking down Main Street at night in small town America and hearing the music drifting out of the small bars and restaurants.

Taken singly each song is a delight to hear but in combination they create a feeling and cohesiveness which is rare. Trail of Tears a country blues song which despite its name does carry a hint of optimism. Robben Ford is on guitar and vocalists Kelly Willis and Christine Ohlman voices weave beautifully with Musselwhite's. "Cold Gray Light of Dawn is a very countrified version of Ivory Joe Hunter's song. Musselwhite sings" in the morning in my room, I'm like a body in a tomb." Musselwhite states that this song reminds him of bad habits which he has left far behind. "In a Town this Size" celebrate small town American and the way everyone is aware of everyone else's business form stolen kisses to cigarettes lit. "One Time One Night" a song with an upbeat sound and a sad message, as the lyric goes "She gave away her life, to become somebody's wife." While the songs continue to resonate the essence of small town, existence they are both a celebration and an indictment.

Blues is a feeling and there is plenty of blues feeling to be had on this cd.

Description of One Night in America

Blues CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop