An oddly effective, one-off marriage of folk-blues and ragtime piano that kicks, to paraphrase
Bob Wills, "like four mules pullin' out of a bog hole."
Koerner, Ray & Glover's
"Spider" John Koerner provides the playful, what-me-worry, Piedmont-by-way-of-Minnesota blues, and
Willie Murphy adds inspired, loose-keyed, ragtime piano. At times, songs like "Red Palace" and "Sometimes I Can't Help Myself" sound like the perfect backdrop for Lilly Langtree in a Dodge City saloon circa 1883. Electric bass crops up here and there for emphasis, but the main vibe is
Jesse Fuller meets
Big Tiny Little. "Magazine Lady," a wildly in-the-groove tale of photo lust, is not to be missed. Kudos to eclectic producer
Frazier Mohawk (Holy Modal Rounders, Kaleidoscope, Nico) for holding this stew together. ~ Steve Cooper