Otis Rush – Live and In Concert From San Francisco

Otis Rush is another of the early Chicago blues masters whose “I Can’t Quit You Baby” (written by Willie Dixon) was famously covered by Led Zeppelin and his own composition “All Your Love (I Miss Loving)” was one of the highlights of Eric Clapton’s work with the Bluesbreakers.

This 2006 CD of a 1999 live show includes those two monsters, of course, as well as a selection of others, both original and covers, including a jumpin’ version of “Got My Mojo Working” which is guaranteed to get you movin’!

Unlike many later work by some of the original bluesmen, this shows that Rush was still a giant and an incredible player and his band worked with taste and style to enhance the songs, not detract from them. Yes, on occasion, the horn section is a little overpowering – just a little – but it still works within the framework. This does give the songs a bit more of a B.B.King feel to them than they originally had, but the guitar is still front and center - and excellent!

I’ve been captivated by Rush since I first discovered him (which, I’m embarrassed to say, was only a few years ago) and this live set is smokin’ and shows that he was still deserving of all of his accolades. I see from Wikipedia that he has tragically since suffered a stroke that has kept him from playing. Hopefully, he will recover soon as he is still young enough to do more fine work. Get this for some superbly rockin’ blues guitar!