Veteran blues harpist James Cotton, a veteran of the Chicago blues tradition who ran with Muddy Waters’ pack during the ‘50s and ‘60s, bares it all in a rollicking new release, Baby, Don’t You Tear My Clothes, his latest installment on Telarc. The new album follows his 35th Anniversary Jam, the 2002 release that scored a W.C. Handy for Traditional Blues Album of the Year.

Joining the celebrated bluesman on Baby, Don’t Tear My Clothes is a collection of some of the best musicians from around the world, each helping Cotton bring to life his vision of American roots music. Bobby Rush brings his signature chitlin’ circuit groove to the title track, while Odetta and James pair up on the blues classic, “Key to the Highway.” Doc and Merle Watson join Cotton on a nostalgic country guitar/harmonica party on Leroy Carr’s seminal “How Long Blues.” Other roots music luminaries on board include C.J. Chenier, Rory Block, Dave Alvin, Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, and Marcia Ball.

Cotton’s core band at the foundation of Baby, Don’t You Tear My Clothes includes some solid musicians as well, several of whom appeared on the 35th Anniversary Jam recording: guitarist Derek O’Brien, pianist David Maxwell, bassist Noel Neal and drummer Per Hanson.

Born in 1935 in Tunica, Mississippi, Cotton started playing harmonica at age six. He first learned to mimic the sounds of passing freight trains until he heard Sonny Boy Williamson on the King Biscuit Hour over station KFFA in Helena, Arkansas. Though Williamson was known for his irascible personality, he took note of Cotton’s precocious talent and took the nine-year-old boy under his wing for the next five or six years.

Cotton and Williamson parted ways in1950, and Cotton formed his own band in Memphis, where he caught the attention of Sun Records founder and roots rock pioneer Sam Phillips. Cotton recorded classics like “Hold Me In Your Arms” and “Cotton Crop Blues” on the Sun label before hooking up with Muddy Waters in 1954 at age 18.Cotton played in Waters’ band for the next twelve years, then struck out on his own in 1966. For the next three decades and beyond, Cotton recorded on various labels and covered countless miles of road—bringing his mix of Delta and urban blues to the masses on a first-hand basis, staying true to his roots despite never-ending shifts in music fashion.

Baby, Don’t You Tear My Clothes is Cotton’s third solo release on Telarc. He joined the label in 2000 with the release of Fire Down Under the Hill, followed by 35th Anniversary Blues Jam two years later. In that time, he has also appeared on several blues compilations and tribute albums released on Telarc.

James Cotton - harmonica
Per Hanson -- drums
David Maxwell -- piano
Noel Neal -- bass
Derek O'Brien -- guitar
Featuring Special Guests:
Dave Alvin -- vocal and guitar
Marcia Ball -- vocal and guitar
Rory Block - vocal and guitar
C.J. Chenier -- vocal and accordion
Jim Lauderdale -- vocal
Odetta -- vocal
Peter Rowan -- vocal and guitar
Bobby Rush -- vocal
Doc & Merle Watson -- vocal and guitar

Reviews

“Tear My Clothes offers great moments that will make aficionados salivate. It also invites new listeners in, with R&B "standards" delivered with great confidence and talent. So, even though I’m not big on shopping, I must say it will be hard to find a better holiday gift for anyone remotely capable of liking R&B or rock’n’roll with roots attached.” -- Soundstage

“On this CD you experience Cotton digging into his roots and playing with great warmth on covers like 'Stealin'', 'Key To The Highway', 'Bring It On Home To Me', 'Raining In My Heart' and three original instrumental pieces… It is a joy to report that with this warm set, James Cotton is not going quietly into twilight's last gleaming.” -- Blues Matter

“Cotton's prominent harp is always noticeable on 13 (mostly cover) tunes but he doesn’t hog the limelight...His previous CD won a Handy & this one just might win him another.” -- Southwest Blues Magazine

"Harp fans will be dazzled, of course (is there a better harp player alive?), but above all it’s a solid and enjoyable listen for anyone.” -- EJazzNews.com

“The Delta deep and lonely ‘Friends,’ with only the fearlessly textured guitar of Derek O’Brien for accompaniment, is a thrilling coda to an album that sounds more like a jam session, with old buddies stopping by, than a studio affair. Congrats to producer Randy Laabe. Recommended.” -- Sing Out

“This is a great recording of one of the few remaining swooping, squalling, and squawking masters of the Harmonica Blues genre. He’s playing better than ever.” -- Big City Blues

“...Cotton plays moans and flutter effects against veteran folk singer Odetta’s precise annunciation on ‘Key to the Highway,’ while he echoes almost naturally C.J. Chenier’s Cajun accordion on ‘Rainin’ In My Heart.” -- Ft. Worth Star Telegram

“The album’s closer, ‘Catalyst,’ is aptly dubbed as each of these musicians becomes the catalyst of change that results in the tune’s brilliant heraldry. What a good album.” -- Off Beat

“At 69, Cotton is a blues lion in winter who hasn’t lost his roar.” -- Prime Time

3 out of 4 stars -- Chicago Sun Times

“On his new CD, Baby Don’t You Tear My Clothes (on Telarc), he joins forces with distinguished singers, some of whom are also top instrumentalists. This has the benign effect of stretching Cotton’s talents into new areas.” -- Town & Village James Cotton "Slow Blues"

James Cotton "Slow Blues"

http://www.jamescottonsuperharp.com