''Hard Drivin' Blues'' is an album by blues musician Roosevelt Sykes with

Homesick James Williamson Homesick James (April 30, 1910December 13, 2006 was an American blues musician known for his mastery of the slide guitar. He worked with his cousin, Elmore James, and with Sonny Boy Williamson II. Early years Homesick James was born in Somervil ...

recorded in 1963 and released by the Delmark label the following year.Both Sides Now: Discography of the Delmar(k) Label
accessed November 13, 2019

Reception

AllMusic reviewer arwulf arwulf stated: "When the music heard on this album was recorded in January 1962 and May 1963, Sykes was in the process of ripening into a sanguine creature even more interesting and provocative than his earlier selves had been. ... Sykes had enjoyed one hell of a comeback as an internationally acclaimed master of the blues; he toured extensively, playing tiny saloons and massive music festivals, even recording at times with electrically amplified instrumental backing. All throughout the second half of the 1970s, the one-man, one-piano ''Hard Drivin' Blues'' album was warmly received by those lucky enough to have caught Sykes live and in person, and it still stands as one of the very finest recordings in his entire discography ...There are plenty of Roosevelt Sykes albums to choose from; this one is essential, fundamental, and indispensable.".

Track listing

All compositions by Roosevelt Sykes # "Kickin' Motor Scooter" – 2:51 Additional track on CD reissue # "Red-Eye Jesse Bell" – 2:44 # "I Like What You Do" – 1:46 # "New Fire Detective Blues" – 2:51 # "North Gulfport Boogie" – 3:03 # "Watch Your Step" – 2:22 # "Ho! Ho! Ho!" – 3:00 # "Key to Your Heart" – 2:26 Additional track on CD reissue # "We Gotta Move" – 2:58 # "Dresser Drawers" – 2:44 Additional track on CD reissue # "Living the Right Life" – 2:43 # "Run This Boogie" – 2:29 # "Slidell Blues" – 3:27 # "Mistake In Life" – 2:33 Additional track on CD reissue # "You So Small" – 2:29 Additional track on CD reissue # "Concentration Blues" – 2:56 # "She's Got Me Straddle a Log" – 2:17

Personnel

* Roosevelt Sykes – piano, vocals *

– guitar, bass (tracks 6, 9, 10, 12, 13 & 16)

References

{{Authority control Roosevelt Sykes albums 1964 albums Delmark Records albums Albums produced by Bob Koester