Johnny Hoy and The Bluefish

Live from the Fallout Shelter

Independent

Johnny Hoy came to Martha’s Vineyard in 1978 after soaking up his primary inspiration Muddy Waters. Johnny Hoy and The Bluefish were formed in 1991. They recorded three great albums for Tone Cool Records; 1995’s “Trolling The Hootchy”, 1996’s “You’re Going To Loose Your Head”, and 1998’s “Walk That Plank”; and two self-produced CD’s, 2006’s “Film Noir Angel”, and “The Dance”. They enjoy life on Martha’s Vineyard where they can be seen every Tuesday night at The Ritz Cafe.

Today, Johnny’s ensemble includes Jeremy Berlin, a pianist who has been with the band since the summer of 1993. Guitarist Delanie Pickering who showed up in 2017 and quietly checked out the band until she was ready to join; and either drummer Kevin Medeiros (who plays on four tracks) or Cameron Igo. The album was recorded live at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood Massachusetts, and edited and mixed by Andy Plaisted at Electric Andyland, in Malden Ma., and mastered by Chris Rival at Middleville Studio in North Reading, Ma.

The album opens with “Motor Head Baby” co-written by Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Mario Delagarde, and recorded under the name Young John Watson in 1953. “Stormy Weather” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler, and sung by Lena Horne in 1957, “keeps my baby, away from me”; Medeiros is on drums, Pickering guitar, as Berlin and Pickering become backing vocalists. “You Ain’t Too Old” is a narrative first recorded by Clarence Williams, under the name Williams’ Jug Band, “oh, baby, you ain’t too old as long as you can boogie, grandma and grandpa, stay at home and make love all night”.

“It Hurts Me Too” was recorded by Elmore James in 1965 on Mel London’s Cheif Records “if you love a woman the way I love you, it hurts me too”. “That Old Feeling” is a bit of nostaglia by Sammy Fain with lyric by Lew Brown as the song appeared in the movie “Walter Wangers Vogues of 1938”, “you were made for me it’s a good start, I got that old feeling in my heart”. “Here I Stand With My Heart In My Hand” was written by Dave Williams and recorded by him under the name David “Fatman” Williams in 1975, it’s a slow blues with the lyric “well the moon up above and stars shining down…here I stand darling with my heart in my hand and you will always be my love, glory be”.

“I Don’t Mind Sleeping Outside By Myself” is an original written by Pickering, with a boogie beat, as Johnny hits those high notes. “You Don’t Love Me (I Don’t Care) is from Elias McDaniel, a.k.a. Bo Diddley as it was first recorded in 1959, “you know I love you, you know I do”, with some great Hammond organ from Berlin. “Every Whicha Kinda Way” was written by H. Glover and T. Titus and recorded by Earl King in 1957, “Every whicha kinda way, every morning every day…just say where and I’ll be there, every whicha kinda way”.

“Big Road Blues”, written by Mississippi Fred McDowell, features some great slide from Pickering as Johnny sings “how come you do me, like you do…this train is a comin, you tried to do me like you did before”. “She’ll Be So Fine” was written by Chris Vachon and recorded by Roomful Of Blues in 2002, “she’ll be so fine now… like she never was before…”. “He’s My Heart’s Desire”, written by Willie Schofield was recorded by the Ohio Untouchables in 1962, “there is nothing I can do cause I love, I love, he’s my heart’s desire…I held my baby in my lovin’ arms and I told
him, I love, I love , he’s my hearts desire”.

“I Feel So Good” was written and recorded by Big Bill Broonzy, and covered by Muddy Waters, with some great slide from Pickering as Johnny sings “my baby says she’s coming home…I feel so good, I feel like ballin’ the jack”. On the closer, the traditional gospel song “One Of These Mornings” arranged by Johnny and Berlin “the world is changing and it won’t be long, but I’ll be gone…when I get to heaven I’m gonna scream and shout, ain’t nobody gonna’ put me out”.

Throughout the recording we are impressed with both Johnny Hoy’s harmonica and vocal range; and the historical knowlege of Jeremy Berlin, a true student of the blues. Although an album of covers I know that whenever I listen to them I learn so much. Come along on this musical journey with Johnny Hoy and The Bluefish.

Richard Ludmerer

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