The Real Me: Johnny Adams Sings Doc Pomus
- Genre: Blues
- Year: 1991
- Listened to in: Car via Rhapsody
- Tom says: “Adams spins Pomus’s simple themes into potent, disarmingly casual blues confessions.”
Aaron says:
I appreciate the blues in small doses. I’ve never been able to sit through an entire blues album without a) getting bored or b) thinking how repetitive it starts to sound.
I appreciate blues musicians for what they bring to the table, and this album is filled with amazing players, including Dr. John. Johnny Adams (who died in 1998) isn’t an A-list name when it comes to blues, and after listening to this album it’s clear he should be. Doc Pomus wrote blues at the legendary Brill Building in the 60’s, including Ray Charles’ “Lonely Avenue.” The combination of makes for a close-to-perfect blues experience.
That said, the album is stuck well within the constraints of blues songwriting, both in lyrics and chord structure. There’s nothing (to my ears) particularly groundbreaking here. It’s masterful without being the slightest bit innovative.
Verdict
An absolute tour de force of blues. Perfectly executed, soulful, and moving. If you can sit through 60 minutes of blues at a time, I highly recommend it. If you’re like me, add it to your shuffle mix and enjoy the songs one at a time.
3 stars (out of 5), with a bonus star if you’re in the right mood.
