b. April 8th, 1955 in Chicago (Illinois)
THE NEW BLUEBLOODS
Alligator
Sonet
January 1986
Neveu de J.B. Hutto, Ed reçoit de ce dernier les premiers rudiments à la guitare. Avec son demi-frère James "Pookie" Young, Louis Henderson et Dave Weld, il forme les Blues Imperials et joue dans les clubs du West Side dès 1975. Grâce au producteur Bruce Iglauer, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials peuvent graver leur premier morceau ("Young thing") qui sort sur cette belle anthologie.
Nephew of J.B. Hutto, Ed received his first guitar lessons from him. With his half-brother James "Pookie" Young, Louis Henderson and Dave Weld, he formed the Blues Imperials and played in West Side clubs since 1975. Thanks to producer Bruce Iglauer, Lil'Ed & The Blues Imperials were able to record their first track ("Young thing") which appears on this nice anthology.
ROUGHHOUSIN'
Alligator
Sonet
January 1986
Cette séance n'était, au départ, prévue que pour le titre devant figurer dans l'anthologie "The new bluebloods". Mais, devant la qualité de la musique proposée, un album entier fut enregistré en 3 heures sous la supervision du producteur Bruce Iglauer. Lil'Ed et son groupe délivrent un Chicago Blues dynamique et puissant, dominé par la slide-guitare. On trouve de bons moments comme "Old oak tree", "Midnight rider", "You done me wrong for the last time", "Everything I do brings me closer to the blues", "Mean old Frisco", "Walking the dog".
This session was initially intended only for the track to be included in the "The new bluebloods" anthology. However, given the quality of the music produced, an entire album was recorded in three hours under the supervision of producer Bruce Iglauer. Lil'Ed and his band deliver a dynamic and powerful Chicago Blues, dominated by slide guitar. Highlights include "Old oak tree", "Midnight rider", "You done me wrong for the last time", "Everything I do brings me closer to the blues", "Mean old Frisco", "Walking the dog".
CHICKEN GRAVY & BISCUITS
Alligator
1989
Après les départs de Dave Weld et Louis Henderson, le groupe se stabilise avec l'arrivée de Michael Garrett et Kelly Littleton. Dans ce second album, on peut retenir "Walkin'", "Blues for Jeanette", "Got to be wise", "Can't let these blues go" sans oublier les sympathiques reprises de "Master charge" d'Albert Collins et de "20% alcohol" de J.B. Hutto.
After the departures of Dave Weld and Louis Henderson, the group stabilized with the arrival of Michael Garrett and Kelly Littleton. Highlights of this second album include "Walkin'", "Blues for Jeanette", "Got to be wise", "Can't let these blues go" not to mention the nice covers of Albert Collins' "Master charge" and J.B. Hutto's "20% alcohol".
ALLIGATOR RECORDS 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
Alligator
June 1991
Une version live de "Chicken gravy and biscuits" capturée sur la scène du Chicago Blues Festival.
A live version of "Chicken gravy and biscuits" captured on stage at the Chicago Blues Festival.
ALLIGATOR RECORDS 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Alligator
February or March 1992
Dans ce concert donné pour les 20 ans du label Alligator, Lil'Ed et son groupe (avec l'apport du saxophoniste Eddie Mac Kinley) jouent sur quatre morceaux (en particulier "Can't let these blues go" et "Mean old Frisco") et dans la jam finale.
In this concert given for the 20th anniversary of the Alligator label, Lil'Ed and his band (with the contribution of saxophonist Eddie Mac Kinley) play on four tracks (in particular "Can't let these blues go" and "Mean old Frisco") and in the final jam.
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
Alligator
1992
Dans ce troisième album pour Alligator, produit comme d'habitude par Bruce Iglauer et Ed Williams, le groupe s'enrichit du saxophoniste Eddie Mac Kinley. Très en forme, ils délivrent une belle tranche de Chicago Blues. On apprécie le programme intense et puissant avec de superbes compositions comme "Life is like gambling", "Older woman", "Living for today", "Upset man", "What you see is what you get", "Bluesmobile" où brillent la cohésion du groupe et la slide-guitare d'Ed. On peut ajouter aussi la remarquable reprise du "Please help" de J.B. Hutto.
In this third album for Alligator, produced as usual by Bruce Iglauer and Ed Williams, the group is joined by saxophonist Eddie McKinley. In top form, they deliver a fine slice of Chicago Blues. The intense and powerful program is a delight featuring superb compositions such as "Life is like gambling", "Older woman", "Living for today", "Upset man", "What you see is what you get", "Bluesmobile" where the band's cohesion and Ed's slide guitar shine. Also worth mentioning is their remarkable cover of J.B. Hutto's "Please help".
THE ALLIGATOR RECORDS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Alligator
1992
Pour cette anthologie de Noël, Lil'Ed joue le bon "I'm your Santa".
For this Christmas anthology, Lil'Ed plays the good "I'm your Santa".
THE ALLIGATOR RECORDS 25TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION
Alligator
HOUND DOG TAYLOR : A TRIBUTE
Alligator
1992
On trouve dans ces deux recueils une belle reprise du "It's alright" d'Hound Dog Taylor.
These two collections contain a nice cover of Hound Dog Taylor's "It's alright".
KEEP ON WALKIN'
Earwig
January - March 1996
Après s'être séparé des Blues Imperials, Lil'Ed Williams s'associe avec son ancien comparse Dave Weld pour ce sympathique album. Le programme est partagé entre blues acoustique et blues électrique et contient quelques bons moments comme "North Carolina bound" (en deux versions), "Combination boogie" (une reprise de J.B. Hutto), "I'm not a slave", "I can't have nothin'" et "Keep on walkin'".
After parting ways with the Blues Imperials, Lil'Ed Williams teamed up with his former bandmate Dave Weld for this enjoyable album. The program is split between acoustic and electric blues and contains some nice moments such as "North Carolina bound" (in two versions), "Combination boogie" (a J.B. Hutto cover), "I'm not a slave", "I can't have nothin'" and "Keep on walkin'".
ALL STAR BLUES SESSIONS
HMG
March 1997
Une excellente version de "Hip shakin'" jouée en compagnie de l'harmoniciste Bob Corritore.
An excellent version of "Hip shakin'" played with harmonica player Bob Corritore.
WHO'S BEEN TALKING
Earwig
1998
L'association de ces deux grands représentants du blues chicagoan semblait très prometteuse. Et le disque est à la hauteur de l'attente. Willie et Lil'Ed se partagent le chant et les compositions personnelles. Le blues est, ici, puissant, vigoureux parfaitement rendu par un groupe homogène et une production appliquée. Les compositions de Lil'Ed sont particulièrement abouties ("Someday" et "Going shopping") et quelques reprises excitantes donnent envie de danser : "Who's been talking", "My bleeding heart" et "Newspaper blues". On remarque aussi l'apport d'Eddie C. Campbell, brillant à la guitare.
The combination of these two great exponents of the Chicago blues seemed very promising. And the disc is up to the waiting. Willie and Lil'Ed share singing and compositions. The blues is here, strong, vigorous perfectly rendered by a homogeneous group and a slick production. Lil'Ed compositions are particularly accomplished ("Someday" and "Going shopping") and some exciting covers make you dance : "Who's been talking", "My bleeding heart" and "Newspaper blues". We also note the contribution of Eddie C. Campbell, brilliant on guitar.
GET WILD
Alligator
1999
Après avoir tenté une carrière solo et traversé quelques problèmes personnels, Lil'Ed reforme les Blues Imperials en 1999. Ensemble, ils délivrent un album puissant qui mérite l'écoute. On peut notamment retenir "You got to stop", "Too late", "Compact man", "Get out" ainsi que les deux titres autobiographiques, le slow-blues "Change my way of living" et "Independant superwoman" dédié à sa femme Pamela.
After attempting a solo career and experiencing some personal difficulties, Lil'Ed reformed the Blues Imperials in 1999. Together, they delivered a powerful album that is well worth a listen. We can particularly point out "You got to stop", "Too late", "Compact man", "Get out" as well as two autobiographical tracks, the slow blues "Change my way of living" and "Independant superwoman" dedicated to his wife Pamela.
BLUES ON MY RADIO
South West Musical Arts Foundation
October 2001
HEADS UP
Alligator
2002
Lil'Ed Williams et son groupe continuent de délivrer leur Chicago Blues brut et dynamique dominé majoritairement par la slide-guitare. On trouve ici un programme très consistant dans ce nouvel album, en particulier les morceaux "Never miss your water", "The creeper", "Four leaf clover", "Lil'Ed's home cookin'", "Black night".
Lil'Ed Williams and his band continue to deliver their raw and dynamic Chicago Blues dominated primarily by slide guitar. This new album features a very consistent program, particularly the tracks "Never miss your water", "The creeper", "Four leaf clover", "Lil'Ed's home cookin'", "Black night".
RATTLESHAKE
Alligator
2006
Même si la formule de Chicago Blues jouée à la slide-guitare évolue assez peu d'un album sur l'autre, on trouve encore ici quelques bons titres comme "You just weren't there", "Icicles in my meatloaf", "Broken promises", "Nobody's fault but my own". On note aussi l'apport de Johnny Iguana aux claviers sur certains titres.
Even though the Chicago Blues formula played on slide guitar changes very little from one album to the next, there are still some good tracks here such as "You just weren't there", "Icicles in my meatloaf", "Broken promises", "Nobody's fault but my own". Johnny Iguana's contribution on keyboards to some tracks is also noteworthy.
FULL TILT
Alligator
2008
Cet album ne marque pas par son originalité mais recèle une poignée de titres intéressants qui méritent l'écoute : "Housekeeping job", "Check my baby's oil", "Woman take a bow", "Dying to live", "Every man needs a good woman" sans oublier la reprise du "Take five" d'Hound Dog Taylor.
This album is not particularly original but contains a handful of interesting tracks that are worth listening to : "Housekeeping job", "Check my baby's oil", "Woman take a bow", "Dying to live", "Every man needs a good woman" not forgetting the cover of Hound Dog Taylor's "Take five".
JUMP START
Alligator
2012
Toujours en pleine forme, Lil'Ed et son groupe proposent une fois encore un excellent album. La tracklist offre de superbes titres (qu'Ed écrit parfois avec sa femme Pamela), percutants et inspirés, comme "You burnt me", "House of cards", "Life is a journey", "Weatherman", "My chains are gone" et "Moratorium on hate".
Still in top form, Lil'Ed and his band deliver another excellent album. The tracklist features superb, hard-hitting and inspired tracks (some of which Ed co-writes with his wife Pamela) such as "You burnt me", "House of cards", "Life is a journey", "Weatherman", "My chains are gone" and "Moratorium on hate".
THE BIG SOUND OF LIL' ED & THE BLUES IMPERIALS
Alligator
2016
Lil'Ed Williams poursuit sa carrière avec une stabilité exemplaire. Bien que le son de sa musique change peu, il possède de vraies qualités de compositeur lui permettant de délivrer des morceaux accrocheurs comme "Poor man's song", "Black diamond love", "Deep in my soul", "I want it all". On peut aussi citer sa reprise du "I'll cry tomorrow" de son oncle J.B. Hutto.
Lil'Ed Williams continues his career with exemplary stability. Although the sound of his music changes little, he possesses genuine songwriting talent allowing him to deliver catchy tracks like "Poor man's song", "Black diamond love", "Deep in my soul", "I want it all". His cover of his uncle J.B. Hutto's "I'll cry tomorrow" is also worth mentioning.