Robert Lee Nelson
b. July 7th, 1944 in Bogalusa (Louisiana)
d. January 17th, 2013 in Atlanta (Georgia)
THE HEARTFIXERS FEATURING CHICAGO BOB
Southland
Summer 1982
LIVE AT THE MOONSHADOW
Landslide
June 1983
Concert au Moonshadow Saloon d'Atlanta. Chicago Bob assure le chant et l'harmonica, co-leader des Heartfixers (avec lesquels il est associé depuis 1980) avec le guitariste Tinsley Ellis. En réalité, Bob n'est pas très présent à l'harmonica dans ce bon live faisant la part belle à la guitare d'Ellis.
Concert at the Moonshadow Saloon in Atlanta. Chicago Bob performs vocals and harmonica, Heartfixers co-leader (with whom he has been associated since 1980) with guitarist Tinsley Ellis. In fact, Bob is not very present on harmonica in this nice live giving pride of place to Ellis' guitar.
JUST YOUR FOOL
High Water
HMG
February 1987
Son père Versie Nelson était bassiste et harmoniciste. Dès l'enfance, le jeune Bob l'accompagne à diverses fêtes et barbecues locaux. Il apprend l'harmonica dès ses huit ans cotoyant plus tard les souffleurs locaux Slim Harpo et Lazy Lester. En 1959, Bob se fixe quelques temps à Gary (Indiana) avant de s'installer à Chicago au début des années 60. Il fréquente alors Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Muddy Waters (c'est Muddy qui lui donne le surnom de Chicago Bob). Relocalisé dans la région de Boston vers 1965, il s'associe avec le guitariste Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson. Plus tard, Bob tourne avec le Coast to Coast Band de John Lee Hooker. Fixé à Atlanta depuis 1977, il démarre une carrière en solitaire quelques années plus tard. Ce "Just your fool" s'impose en fait comme son premier vrai album en tant que leader après ses deux opus avec les Heartfixers. Bob est ici accompagné des Shadows, le groupe-maison du club Blind Willie's d'Atlanta (un club dirigé par Eric King également manager du groupe). Produit par David Evans et George Mitchell à l'Université de Memphis, cet disque recèle plusieurs excellentes pistes comme "Your time to choose", "You belong to me", "Sloppy drunk", "In my bed all alone". Chanteur à la voix grave et profonde et bon harmoniciste, il est appuyé notamment par l'excellent guitariste J.T. Speed.
His father Versie Nelson was a bass and harmonica player. From childhood, the young Bob accompanies him to various local parties and barbecues. He learns harmonica from his eight years later frequenting local blowers Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester. In 1959, Bob lived in Gary (Indiana) for a while before settling in Chicago in the early 1960's. Then, he went with Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Muddy Waters (it's Muddy who gives him the Chicago Bob nickname). Relocated in the Boston area around 1965, he teamed up with guitarist Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson. Bob later toured with John Lee Hooker's Coast to Coast Band. Relocated to Atlanta since 1977, he started a solo career a few years later. This "Just your fool" is actually his first true album as a leader after his two opus with The Heartfixers. Bob is here accompanied by The Shadows, the house-band of Atlanta's Blind Willie's club (a club run by Eric King, also the band's manager). Produced by David Evans and George Mitchell at the University of Memphis, this album contains several excellent tracks like "Your time to choose", "You belong to me", "Sloppy drunk", "In my bed all alone". Singer with a deep voice and good harmonicist, he is supported by the excellent guitarist J.T. Speed.
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HONEY IN THE HIVE
Classic
mid 1980's
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COMIN' BACK STRONG
Erwin (only on cassette)
1992
HIT AND RUN LOVER
Ichiban
1992
Paru sous la marque Wild Dog appartenant au label Ichiban, ce disque est produit par Bob Greenlee. Une bonne tranche de blues traditionnel avec des morceaux aboutis comme "Hit and run lover", "Bus drivin' woman", "Locksmith", "Comin' back home", "Think it over". Bob brille ici par sa belle voix chaude et un jeu d'harmonica très blues superbement inspiré.
Released under Wild Dog imprint owned by Ichiban label, this album is produced by Bob Greenlee. A good slice of traditional blues with achieved songs like "Hit and run lover", "Bus drivin' woman", "Locksmith", "Comin' back home", "Think it over". Bob shines here with his beautiful warm voice and a superbly inspired blues harmonica playing.
HANDS ACROSS THE SEA
Appaloosa
February 1993
KEEP WHAT I GOT
Planisphare
May 1993
Gravé lors d'une tournée en Suisse aux côtés d'impeccables musiciens locaux, on trouve dans ce disque très consistant de nombreux bons moments comme "Business man", "Rich man woman", "Buzzard luck", "Think", "Your time to choose". On retient également la superbe reprise du "Wish I had someone" de Little Walter.
Recorded during a tour in Switzerland alongside impeccable local musicians, we find in this very consistent record many good moments like "Business man", "Rich man woman", "Buzzard luck", "Think", "Your time to choose". We also point out the superb cover of Little Walter's "Wish I had someone".
BACK TO BOGALUSA
King Snake
1995
Produit par Bob Greenlee pour son label King Snake, cet album place Chicago Bob en compagnie de ses anciens acolytes (notamment les excellents guitaristes Tinsley Ellis et Warren King très inspirés ici). "Leave the young girls alone", "Came home this morning", "Wilma Jean", "Back to Bogalusa" s'imposent comme de remarquables compositions. Bob propose une superbe synthèse entre Chicago blues et Swamp blues et offre deux belles pistes acoustiques achevées : "Sugar mama blues", "Short hair woman".
Produced by Bob Greenlee for his King Snake label, this album places Chicago Bob in the company of his former bandmates (including excellent guitarists Tinsley Ellis and Warren King, very inspired here). "Leave the young girls alone", "Came home this morning", "Wilma Jean", "Back to Bogalusa" stand out as remarkable compositions. Bob offers a superb synthesis between Chicago blues and Swamp blues and offers two beautiful and achieved acoustic tracks : "Sugar mama blues", "Short hair woman".
LENNY SMITH & FRIENDS FEATURING CHICAGO BOB (EP)
Rhombus
1997
Il s'agit d'un disque du guitariste Lenny Smith mais celui-ci se concentre uniquement sur son instrument. Chicago Bob chante et joue de l'harmonica sur les six titres de cet EP. Une livraison plutôt intéressante - produite par Kevin Russell - avec un son orienté Blues-Rock qui devrait plaire aux amateurs de la musique de l'harmoniciste louisianais.
This is an album of guitarist Lenny Smith but he focuses only on his instrument. Chicago Bob sings and plays harmonica on the six tracks of this EP. A rather interesting installment - produced by Kevin Russell - with a Blues-Rock oriented sound that should please fans of the Louisiana harmonica player's music.
FLYIN' TOO HIGH
95 North
December 2005
Dix ans après sa dernière livraison studio, cet album symbolise le retour de Chicago Bob, toujours en forme. Il est entouré d'excellents musiciens comme David Maxwell (également producteur), Per Hanson, Michael "Mudcat" Ward, "Monster" Mike Welch qui forment un groupe compétent et soudé. Un disque plaisant et varié qui mérite l'écoute.
Ten years after his last studio installment, this album symbolizes the return of Chicago Bob, still in good shape. He is surrounded by excellent musicians like David Maxwell (also producer), Per Hanson, Michael "Mudcat" Ward, "Monster" Mike Welch who form a competent and tight backing band. A pleasant and varied record that deserves listening.
TELL ME MAMA
Music Maker
May 2009
Enregistré grâce à la Fondation Music Maker de Tim Duffy, Chicago Bob officie ici seulement accompagné du guitariste Ross "Peadboy" Pead lors d'une séance acoustique. Un opus minimaliste - produit par Tim Duffy et Captain Luke - qui manque un peu de flamme et parait un peu plat dans l'ensemble.
Recorded through the Music Maker Foundation of Tim Duffy, Chicago Bob officiates here only accompanied by guitarist Ross "Peadboy" Pead during an acoustic session. A minimalist opus - produced by Tim Duffy and Captain Luke - that lacks a bit of flame and looks a bit flat overall.