Mickey Baker has been around for a long time, and has been into every kind of blues scene, pop and all the rest of the Tin Pan Alley set up. He has also been a very big influence on guitar accompanying. Baker has always been highly respected by other musicians. Unfortunately, in order to eat, we have very seldom heard the real Mickey Baker. Now Jim Simpson presents him as he has always wanted to be presented. Mickey is into the real blues – and there is not one track that I would discard. So many modern blues are banal, but this is not the case here. Baker gets deep into all kinds of blues – all with adult sounding lyrics, and this alone, is quite remarkable.
I’ll Always Be In Love With You is the only pop performance – a sentimental bluesy ballad. It is of course not the best track, but I find it most acceptable. The song dates back from the mid-thirties, a time when good ballads were being produced by the hundred, year after year. Put it down to nostalgia if you like, but I like it. Anyway, Mickey is soon back in a low-down groove on the next track She Brings Out The Animal In Me. Great piano from Mabon and beautiful guitar from Baker.
If I had to pick a favourite track it would be the fine talking blues New York, New York. To hear Mickey sing about that great city brings back so many memories that I feel homesick. Yes, this is a great modern blues LP. Not to be missed.
Discography
Make Your Bed Up Mama; Don’t Doubt Me; Take A Look Inside; Blues Fell This Morning; Diggin’ My Potatoes; Playing With Danger (18¼ min) – I’ll Always Be In Love With You; She Brings Out The Animal; New York, New York; Tight Ropes And Bumpy Roads; Bewildered (19 min)
Mickey Baker (vcl/gtr): Willie Mabon (pno/ hca); Dan Armstrong (bs-gtr); Pete Morgan (bs-gtr); Peter York (dm). London. Jan, Feb, March 1973.
(Big Bear 5 £1.63)
