Song:Green Light
Album:Mighty Joe Young
Mighty Joe Young was one of the top blues guitarists on Chicago's west side but he worked mostly as a sideman and really didn't record much. Fortunately this CD covers two great albums from the 70s. He was born Sept. 23, 1927 in Shreveport, LA and grew up in Milwaukee. In the 50s, he played with Joe Little & His Heartbreakers while trying to unsuccessfully launch a solo career. He also recorded with Jimmy Rogers and backed up Billy Boy Arnold. He continued to try to record his own music while he was Otis Rush's rhythm guitarist from 1960-63. He finally recorded an album in 1970 called Blues With A Touch Of Soul on Delmark Records. Probably his two best albums were 1974's Chicken Heads & 1976's Mighty Joe Young on Ovation Records. Ovation was a label that started in the early 70s to take advantage of Quadrophonic sound which was sort of an early version of what is now called Surround Sound. When Quadrophonic failed, so did Ovation. This 2002 Blind Pig CD combines those two records and showcases Mighty Joe Young at his best. It's recommended to blues fans. Young attempted a comeback in the 80s but a pinched nerve in his neck affected his ability to play the guitar and he was never the same. He released one final album in 1997 and died on Mar. 25, 1999 at age 71. Here's Mighty Joe Young performing in the 1970 film Chicago Blues.
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