''Walking the Blues'' is an album by blues pianist and vocalist

Otis Spann Otis Spann (March 21, 1924 or 1930April 24, 1970) was an American blues musician, whom many consider to be the leading postwar Chicago blues pianist. Early life Sources differ over Spann's early years. Some state that he was born in Jackson, Miss ...

recorded in New York in 1960 by

Candid Records Candid Records was a jazz record label first established in New York City. Early Candid Records The CANDID jazz label was founded in New York City in 1960 as a subsidiary of Cadence Records, owned by Archie Bleyer. The jazz writer and civil right ...

but not released until 1972 by the

Barnaby Barnaby is an Old English surname composed of the Saxon element ''beorn'' 'young warrior' and the Danish suffix ''by'' meaning 'settlement'. As a given name, it means "son of consolation" and is etymologically linked with the New Testament name Bar ...

label.Edwards, D., & Callahan, M.
The Barnaby Label Album Discography
accessed November 14, 2019Jazzdisco: Candid Records Catalog: 79000 series
accessed November 14, 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 databas ...

reviewer Thom Owens stated "''Walking the Blues'' is arguably the finest record Otis Spann ever cut, boasting 11 cuts of astounding blues piano. On several numbers, Spann is supported by guitarist Robert Jr. Lockwood and their interaction is sympathetic, warm, and utterly inviting. ... Most importantly, however, is the fact that ''Walking the Blues'' simply sounds great -- it's some of the finest blues piano you'll ever hear.".

Track listing

All compositions by Otis Spann except where noted # "It Must Have Been the Devil" − 3:50 # "Otis' Blues" − 4:16 # "Going Down Slow" − 3:57 # "Half Ain't Been Told" (Otis Spann, James Oden) − 4:38 # "Monkey Face Woman" (Oden) − 4:55 # "This Is the Blues" − 3:06 # "Evil Ways" (Oden) − 3:50 # "Come Day, Go Day" (Oden) − 4:10 # "Walking the Blues" − 4:55 # "Bad Condition" (Oden) − 4:21 # "My Home Is on the Delta" (

McKinley Morganfield McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago ...

) − 3:12

Personnel

− vocals, piano *

Robert Lockwood Jr. Robert Lockwood Jr. (March 27, 1915 – November 21, 2006) was an American Delta blues guitarist, who recorded for Chess Records and other Chicago labels in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the only guitarist to have learned to play directly fr ...

− guitar (tracks 1, 3-5, 7, 8, 10 & 11) * St. Louis Jimmy − vocals (tracks 3, 5, 8, 10)

References

{{Authority control 1972 albums Otis Spann albums Barnaby Records albums Candid Records albums