NEW YORK (Artemis Records) - On January 25th, 2005, Tone-Cool/Artemis Records will release ABOUT THEM SHOES, the new album from blues guitar legend Hubert Sumlin. Sumlin is joined by special guests Keith Richards, Eric Clapton,
David Johansen, harmonica legend
James Cotton and The Band's Levon Helm. Produced by Rob Fraboni, the album is a loving tribute to Muddy Waters and contains seven songs from Waters, four from Willie Dixon (written for Waters), one from Carl C. Wright and one from Sumlin himself.
Tone-Cool President Richard Rosenblatt commented, "We are thrilled to be working with Hubert Sumlin, a man I've been proud to call both a friend and personal hero for more than twenty-five years. Hubert's gentle good humor and deep humility often belie the fact that he is one of the true geniuses of modern blues, but his long and impressive list of admirers makes it obvious that his strong influence has been felt far beyond any one genre".
Sumlin began his career playing with James Cotton before being drafted into Howlin' Wolf's band as lead guitarist in 1954. He played with Howlin' Wolf for over 25 years until Wolf's passing. During that time, he also served a stint as Muddy Waters' lead guitarist. In that time he helped forge the sound of postwar blues and influenced a whole new generation of guitarists including Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. Page said, "Hubert Sumlin is one important person...I love Hubert. And what a complement he was to Howlin' Wolf's voice. He always played the right thing at the right time. Perfect."
Rolling Stone recently included Sumlin in their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists. Sumlin is featured in the new Martin Scorcese/Antoine Fuqua blues performance film, "Lightning In A Bottle".
The film documents the Year of the Blues concert that took place on February 7th, 2003 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Sumlin can also be seen on the current Rhino DVD release of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival. In March, Back Beat Books will publish a Hubert Sumlin biography by Will Romano, entitled Incurable Blues.
ABOUT THEM SHOES track listing:
1. I'm Ready (featuring Eric Clapton)
2. Still A Fool (featuring Keith Richards)
3. She's Into Something
4. Iodine In My Coffee
5. Look What You've Done
6. Come Home Baby
7. Evil
8. Long Distance Call (featuring Eric Clapton)
9. The Same Thing (featuring David Johansen)
10. Don't Go Further
11. I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love
12. Walkin' Through The Park (featuring David Johansen)
13. Liitle Girl, This Is The End (featuring Keith Richards)
