John Littlejohn & Carey | Bell (1981)

A disciple of Elmore James, Littlejohn was one of the few who could make a slide guitar scream with aggression while maintaining a haunting, melodic soul. His technique was precise, but his delivery was pure grit.

If you’re looking for the definitive bridge between the old-school Delta roots and the electrified energy of the 80s Chicago scene, this is your soundtrack. The Players John Littlejohn & Carey Bell (1981)

They stuck to the fundamentals: Standout Vibes A disciple of Elmore James, Littlejohn was one

By 1981, the blues world was shifting. Synthesizers were creeping into everything, and the "raw" sound was being cleaned up for radio. But when Littlejohn and Bell teamed up for their Japanese tour—where this material was captured—they ignored the trends. The Players They stuck to the fundamentals: Standout

The chemistry here is conversational. On tracks like "Dream" or their blistering takes on Elmore James classics, they don't step on each other's toes. Instead, they push each other. Littlejohn sets the house on fire with a sliding riff, and Bell arrives like the siren on a fire truck to wail over the top. The Verdict