Ramblin' Mind

Ramblin' Mind
Studio album by Big Bill Morganfield
Released	2001
Genre	Blues
Label	Blind Pig
Producer	Dick Shurman
Big Bill Morganfield chronology
Rising Son (1999) Ramblin' Mind (2001) Blues in the Blood (2003)

Ramblin' Mind is an album by the American musician Big Bill Morganfield, released in 2001.[1][2] Morganfield supported the album with a North American tour.[3]

Production

The album was produced by Dick Shurman.[4] Morganfield wrote nine of its songs.[5] He was backed by many of the musicians who had played with his father, Muddy Waters, including pianist Pinetop Perkins and guitarist Bob Margolin.[6] Taj Mahal duetted with Morganfield on "Strong Man Holler" and "You're Gonna Miss Me".[7] Billy Branch contributed on harmonica.[8] "Mellow Chick Swing" is a cover of the Sonny Boy Williamson I song.[9] "People Sure Act Funny" is a version of the song made famous by Arthur Conley.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Entertainment Weekly	B[12]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[13]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	[9]

Entertainment Weekly noted that, "formulaic as it can be, Chicago blues is a powerful force in the right hands."[12] The Chicago Tribune determined that, "where his superb 1999 debut showcased veterans of Waters' Chicago band, Ramblin' Mind broadens the palette with jazz and Mississippi Delta blues."[14] The Independent deemed it "a cracking Chicago blues album."[15] The Gazette said that, "on 'Mellow Chick Swing', an old Sonny Boy Williamson tune, he jumps the blues on top of Mr. B's swinging piano pounding and Bill Lupkin's Williamson-inspired harp playing."[7] The Commercial Appeal opined that Morganfield's "guitar playing is journeyman, his songwriting pedestrian, and his singing frankly weak."[16]

AllMusic wrote that "Morganfield's expressive vocals always hit their mark."[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mellow Chick Swing"
2.	"Strong Man Holler"
3.	"Roll with Me"
4.	"What's the Matter"
5.	"People Sure Act Funny"
6.	"Ramblin' Mind"
7.	"Trace of You"
8.	"Dirty Dealin' Mama"
9.	"Foolish Love"
10.	"My Doggy's Got the Blues"
11.	"Troubles"
12.	"Highway 69"
13.	"Little Angel"
14.	"You're Gonna Miss Me"

References

1. Takiff, Jonathan (13 Feb 2001). "Jazz Corner". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 44.
2. Komara, Edward, ed. (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues: K-Z. Routledge. p. 708.
3. DeLuca, Dan (16 Mar 2001). "Big Bill Morganfield". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. W22.
4. Paoletta, Michael (Feb 17, 2001). "Ramblin' Mind". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 7. p. 21.
5. "Johnny 'Clyde' Copeland begat Shemekia...". The Virginian-Pilot. 23 Feb 2001. p. E7.
6. Gold, Judah (May 2001). "Big Bill Morganfield: Keeper of the flame". Guitar Player. Vol. 35, no. 5. pp. 37–38.
7. Regenstrief, Mike (5 Apr 2001). "Big Bill Morganfield Ramblin' Mind". The Gazette. p. D13.
8. Milkowski, Bill (Aug 2001). "Guitar range". Jazziz. Vol. 18, no. 8. p. 78.
9. White, Jim (6 May 2001). "A few reviews of the latest in blues". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G2.
10. Himes, Geoffrey (18 May 2001). "Big Bill Morganfield 'Ramblin' Mind'". The Washington Post. p. WW8.
11. "Ramblin' Mind Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
12. Sullivan, James (Feb 23, 2001). "Big Bill Morganfield: Ramblin' Mind". Entertainment Weekly (583/584): 162.
13. The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. pp. 476–477.
14. Knopper, Steve (25 Feb 2001). "Big Bill Morganfield Ramblin' Mind". Chicago Tribune. p. 7.15.
15. Trapp, Roger (31 Mar 2001). "Jazz & Blues". Features. The Independent. p. 37.
16. Jordan, Mark (5 May 2001). "Ramblin Mind Big Bill Morganfield". The Commercial Appeal. p. E4.