Wee Willie Walker & The Greaseland All-Stars

Live at The Notodden Blues Festival

Little Village Foundation

Wee Willie Walker recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. It wasn’t until he was introduced to Rick Estrin that he was re-discovered. Walker’s 2015 album “If Nothing Ever Changes”, co-produced by Estrin and Kid Andersen, was recorded at Anderson’s Greaseland Studios and resulted in Walker receiving three 2016 Blues Music Award nominations; one for Soul Blues Album of The Year; one for Soul Blues Male Artist of The Year, and one for Album of The Year.

As a direct result of Walker’s comeback album he was invited to perform at the Notodden Blues Festival, held on August 5^th, 2016, in Norway. The band heard on this fabulous live set includes, Walker, vocals; Andersen, guitar and backing vocals; Jim Pugh the creator of the Little Village Foundation, Hammond B-3; Lorenzo Farrell from The Nightcats, bass; J. Hansen also from The Nightcats, drums; and Martin Winstad, percussion. The backing singers include Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Will Russ. The horn section, named accordingly The Horns of Norway, include Tron Taalesen, baritone sax; Andre Kassen, tenor sax; Magne Rutle, trombone; and Vidar Torbjornsen, trumpet. The horn charts are by Mike Rinta.

Five of the tunes are reprised from Walker’s “If Nothing Ever Changes”. After a thorough introduction of The Greaseland All-stars band Walker opens with “Read Between the Lines” written by Miami based songwriter and performer Clarence “Blowfly”  Reid. It’s only then that we realize this is going to be a great set as the fabulous horn section adds additional coloration to a production that already highlights Walker’s beautiful voice. “Is That It” written by Estrin; “Funky Way” written by Calvin Arnold and first recorded by Rufus Thomas in 1970; Bobby Rush’s “I’ve Been Watching You”, and Lennon and McCartney’s “Help” follow.

The remainder of the set includes material that most listeners have never heard. Included are four tunes originally recorded by Walker almost fifty years ago. Walker first recorded, Lennon and McCartney’s, “Ticket to Ride” for Goldwax Records in 1967. In 1968 Walker also recorded “There Goes My Used To Be” a secular song written by Roosevelt Jamison a member of the gospel group the Redemption Harmonizers that Walker used to sing with. From that 1968 Goldwax session also comes Walker’s two singles “You Name It I’ve Had It”; and “A Lucky Loser” leased from Goldwax to Checker Records a subsidiary of Chess.

Walker also includes four great covers. “Little Red Rooster” written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Howlin’ Wolf in 1961. “I Ain’t Gonna Cheat On You No More” written by Sam Cooke with Beverly and Betty Prudhomme; and the Cooke classic “A Change is Gonna Come”. “Can I Change My Mind” from songwriter/guitarist Carl Wolfson became the 1968 debut single by Tyrone Davis. These are fabulous versions.

Walker is one of the last of the real soul singers. He is sure to get another Blues Music Award nomination as 2017’s “Soul Blues Artist of The Year”. This highly recommended album is also the “Live Recording of The Year”.

Richard Ludmerer