1967 was a year of dramatic change in pop and rock music. The British Blues Boom was busying itself with a generation of new young gun soloists and sidemen. Sgt Pepper was to introduce new production techniques in multi-track recording, song composing and even cover artwork. Hendrix arrived and turned guitar playing upside down, literally. Psychedelic fun and freedom of the flower power hippy a further ingredient to the halcyon days of 67.
Things were most definitely on the move.
Yet here came a young Charlie Musselwhite with his debut album and an LP cover that looked more like something from at least 5 years previously and a sound that was as basic and raw as any rock and roll from the fifties and early sixties.
His story to this point was also as colourful as any young player of 22 or 23 could get. (see charliemusselwhite.com). The music was an extraordinarily mature blues for his age. Critically acclaimed, he was also embraced by the growing youth counter-culture and the newly emerging progressive rock FM radio stations on the West Coast.
But the man is still lesser known than many of the time and somewhat unheard today.
So here is his signature tune "Christo Redemptor" with it's almost raw garage production (which of course we love) probably recorded on 4 track at no huge cost.
It's a perfect example to anyone playing or wanting to play the blues. It's simple, keep it real and with feeling. "Christo Redemptor" is saturated with atmosphere and emotion and an object lesson in what the blues really is.
DownBeat calls Charlie Musselwhite, “the undisputed champion of the blues harmonica.”
