Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues – Nothin’ To Prove (Plantation #1 Productions).

Mac Arnold was the bass player for Muddy Waters and recorded with Otis Spann and John Lee Hooker. He’s right, he has nothing to prove but has time lessened his talent? Blues For You is a solid opener that gives a good indication of what’s to come both vocally and on guitar. The very strong eponymous title track is a slow Chicago blues that has snarling harmonica and howling guitar. Austin Brashier’s guitar has a fine tone and is excellent on Call Mac Arnold, in particular. In addition, Arnold’s voice has that earthy quality to it. I Don’t Know has another strong vocal performance although the song is not as strong as those that have gone before. Having said that, it does stand up to scrutiny and Rudy ‘Blue Shoes’ Wyatt on the piano takes all the plaudits. It’s back to the bare bones of voice, piano and harp for the very slow (Get On) Back To The Country. The slow pace is the perfect foil for Hightower’s wailing harmonica.

Ghetto Blue sees a welcome return to Brashier’s stinging guitar and has a familiar theme of a deprived childhood. Arnold sings of AC Reed, Muddy Waters, Tyrone Davies and Buddy Guy in Chicago – life can’t have that bad, after all. Going Back Home swings ok but it’s not the best on the album although the guitar and harmonica interlude lifts it. Arnold shows that he can grind it out with the best of them on The Truth and Brashier’s axe is on top form as ever. He provides some more classic Chicago blues on She’s So Mean To Me. This is 9 minutes of sheer class and everything shines on this track. Arnold finishes up with a live version of (Get On) Back To The Country. This has slide guitar from Hightower added this time and suggests that Mac Arnold is a very large live performer and is the real deal.

As the title says, he really has got nothing to prove.

http://www.macarnold.com/
Copyright David Blue 2006.