''Magic Sam Live'' is a live album by the American blues musician

Magic Sam Magic or Magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces * Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic * Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...

, recorded in Chicago in 1963/63 and at the first

Ann Arbor Blues Festival Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival is a music festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that started in 1972 from the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, which itself began in 1969. Although the festival has had a tumultuous history and suspended operations in 200 ...

in Michigan in 1969, that was released by the Delmark label in 1981.Wirz' American Music: Magic Sam discography
accessed October 31, 2019Both Sides Now: Discography of the Delmar(k) Label
accessed October 31, 2019

Reception

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

reviewer Al Campbell stated "While the sound quality leaves something to be desired, fans of electric Chicago blues should hear ''Magic Sam Live''. Recorded at two separate locations ... this disc captures the raw energy not only of the musicians, but the crowds' tremendous response to them. ... Ignore the rotten sound quality, this is raw blues power and provides a priceless document of Sam Maghett's vital showmanship". ''

The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings ''The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings'' is an encyclopedia of blues music albums released on CD. Content The book was released on 31 October 2006 and was written by Tony Russell and Chris Smith with contributions by Neil Slaven, Ricky Russe ...

'' said "The gig tapes ... are of indifferent quality but they can't mask the energy coming from the bandstand. Sam was a talented guitarist but that was merely an adjunct to the forceful personality projected on his vocals ... Sam sweeps all before him, accustomed to leading from the front and grateful if musicians keep up".

Track listing

All compositions by Magic Sam except where noted ''Disc One: At the Alex Club, 1963/64'' # "Every Night About This Time" (

Dave Bartholomew David Louis Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 – June 23, 2019) was an American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer. He was prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century. Originally ...

Fats Domino Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American pianist, singer and songwriter. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New O ...

) − 3:44 # "I Don't Believe You'd Let Me Down" − 4:19 # "Mole's Blues" − 4:49 # "I Just Got to Know" − 4:22 # " Tore Down" (

Sonny Thompson Sonny Thompson (probably August 23, 1916 – August 11, 1989), born Alfonso Thompson or Hezzie Tompson, was an American R&B bandleader and pianist, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Biography There is some uncertainty over Thompson's origins, as ...

) − 3:18 # "You Were Wrong" − 5:14 # "Backstroke" 3:48 # "Come On in This House" (

Junior Wells Junior Wells (born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., December 9, 1934January 15, 1998) was an American singer, harmonica player, and recording artist. He is best known for his signature song " Messin' with the Kid" and his 1965 album '' Hoodoo Man Blues ...

) − 4:07 # "Looking Good" − 3:17 Omitted from single CD reissue # "Riding High" − 1:41 *Recorded at The Alex Club, Chicago in October 1963 (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 & 9) and February 1964 (tracks 3, 5, 7, 8 & 10) ''Disc Two: At the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, 1969'' # "San-Ho-Zay" − 2:31 # "I Need You So Bad" (

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

, Sam Ling) − 4:15 # "You Don't Love Me" − 4:04 Omitted from single CD reissue # "Strange Things Happening" ( Percy Mayfield) − 4:10 # "I Feel So Good (I Wanna Boogie)" − 4:54 # "All Your Love" − 4:55 # "

Sweet Home Chicago "Sweet Home Chicago" is a blues standard first recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. Although he is often credited as the songwriter, several songs have been identified as precedents. The song has become a popular anthem for the city of Chicago de ...

" (

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...

) − 3:28 # "I Got Papers On You, Baby" − 3:30 Omitted from single CD reissue # "Looking Good" − 3:33 # "Looking Good (Encore)" − 1:46 *Recorded at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, Ann Arbor, Michigan on August 3, 1969

Personnel

− guitar, vocals *

Eddie Shaw Eddie Shaw (March 20, 1937 – January 29, 2018) was an American Chicago blues tenor saxophonist, arranger and bandleader. He led Howlin' Wolf's band, the Wolf Gang, from 1972, both before Wolf's death in 1976 and subsequently. Biography ...

– tenor saxophone (Disc One) *Tyrone Carter – electric piano (Disc One: tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 & 9) *Mac Thompson – bass, vocals (Disc One) *Bruce Barlow – bass (Disc Two) *Bob Richey (Disc One: tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 & 9), "Huckleberry Hound" (Robert Wright) (Disc One: tracks 3, 5, 7, 8 & 10),

Sam Lay Samuel Julian Lay (March 20, 1935January 29, 2022) was an American drummer and vocalist who performed from the late 1950s as a blues and R&B musician alongside Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Paul Butterfield, and many others. He was inducted into ...

(Disc Two) – drums

References

{{reflist Delmark Records live albums 1981 live albums Magic Sam live albums