Pick Your Choice [CD]

"Pick Your Choice with George "Harmonica" Smith" is an unusual blues LP from the early 1980's that features an interesting assortment of blues harmonica players starting with George "Harmonica" Smith who played in Muddy Water's band in the mid 1950's and again in the mid 1960's before joining forces with Big Mama Thornton in the 1970's. George leads the proceedings here and is featured on 3 tracks in the Chicago blues vein; Lightnin' Hopkins' sideman Luke "Long Gone' Miles" demonstrates his country blues style; while one man band Blind Joe Hill plays guitar, harmonica and drums at the same time. Three protégés of George "Harmonica" Smith also appear with one track apiece - William Clarke, who is featured with his band The Nightowls; the New York bluesman Doug McLeod; and Evans Walker rounds out the set. Sidemen include Lloyd Glenn, Dennis Walker, Bernie Pearl, and J.D. Nicholson. All selections have been newly remastered.