Magic Sam

This snaps you back into a sweaty West Side nightclub in 1963 Chicago faster than you can pour a gin and milk. That the current generation might not know the wild-ass power of the brilliant young “Magic” Sam Maghett (1937-1969) is a crime. His fleet-fingered, long runs; screaming bends; and sexy, melismatic vocals, coupled with trademark tremelo, are captured here in glorious lo-fi at three Chicago nightclubs. “Tremble,” an Albert Collins-penned instrumental, jump-starts the night at 90 mph; Maghett’s elastic vocal power on Lowell Fulsom’s “It’s All Your Fault, Baby” makes you know he didn’t do anything wrong. As he exhorts the Saturday night patrons, they give back to him all their pent-up mess of the week. They transcend together, the vibe reaches right outta your speakers, and whew!—the power of West Side blues grabs you and shakes that gin and milk right outta your fist. Is it good to ya? Say yeah!