Mac Alvin Arnold
b. June 30th, 1942 in Ware Place (South Carolina)
NOTHIN' TO PROVE
Plantation #1
June 2004 - February 2005
Né dans une ferme de Caroline du Sud, il grandit au milieu de 12 frères et soeurs. Dans les années 50 avec son frère Leroy, il se fabrique une guitare à partir d'un bidon d'essence en acier (aujourd'hui il est devenu célèbre pour ses guitares). Mac déménage en 1965 à Chicago. Après avoir accompagné le saxophoniste A.C. Reed, il devient le bassiste de Muddy Waters ("Authorized bootleg"). Mac joue aussi derrière Otis Spann ("The blues is where it's at") et John Lee Hooker ("Live at the Cafe au Go Go") tout en formant son propre groupe The Soul Invaders avec Tony Bassett. En 1969, il s'installe à Los Angeles où il rencontre sa femme Vonda (qui exerce le métier de productrice). Bien plus tard, en 1989, il sera de retour dans sa Caroline natale pour s'occuper de sa mère malade. Pour son premier album en leader, Mac Arnold délivre un pur Chicago Blues brut bien supporté par des musiciens concernés et inventifs. On remarque notamment Max Hightower (excellent à l'harmonica) et Austin Brashier (guitare). Plusieurs bons moments comme "Blues for you", "The truth", "Call Mac Arnold" mais surtout "Ghetto blue" un titre autobiographique très prenant. A la fin du programme, on peut entendre une version live de "Back to the country".
Born in a farm in South Carolina, he grew up in the midst of 12 brothers and sisters. In the 50's with his brother Leroy, he made a guitar from a steel gas can (today he became famous for his guitars). Mac moves in 1965 to Chicago. After accompanying saxophonist A.C. Reed, he became the bassist of Muddy Waters ("Authorized bootleg"). Mac also plays behind Otis Spann ("The blues is where it's at") and John Lee Hooker ("Live at the Cafe at Go Go") while forming his own The Soul Invaders band with Tony Bassett. In 1969, he moved to Los Angeles where he met his wife Vonda (who works as a producer). Much later, in 1989, he will return to his native Carolina to care for his sick mother. For his first album as a leader, Mac Arnold delivers a pure and raw Chicago Blues well supported by concerned and inventive musicians. We can notice Max Hightower (excellent on harmonica) and Austin Brashier (guitar). Several good moments like "Blues for you", "The truth", "Call Mac Arnold" but especially "Ghetto blue" a very catchy autobiographical title. At the end of the program, we can hear a live version of "Back to the country".
BACKBONE & GRISTLE
Plantation #1
October 2006 - August 2007
Enregistré au South Eastern Sound Studio d'Easley, Mac Arnold et son groupe proposent un album dans la continuation du précédent mais avec un son moins brut et peut-être moins spontané. Un programme varié et bien produit - un peu trop long - d'où ressortent "Backbone and gristle", "Blow till you blow", "I refuse" et l'autobiographique "Gas can story". On note également "I can do anything" dans une version studio ainsi que dans une version live assez différente.
Recorded at Easley's South Eastern Sound Studio, Mac Arnold and his band are offering an album in continuation of the previous one but with a less raw, and perhaps less spontaneous, sound. A varied and well produced program - a bit too long - from which stand out "Backbone and gristle", "Blow till you blow", "I refuse" and the autobiographical "Gas can story". We also note "I can do anything" in a studio version and in a rather different live version.
COUNTRY MAN
Vizztone
August 2009
Ce nouvel album est produit par Bob Margolin, l'ancien guitariste de Muddy Waters. Outre Margolin, Mac Arnold est accompagné de son groupe régulier (Max Hightower, Austin Brashier, Mike Whitt). Contenu inégal - avec quelques influences Rock - avec tout de même quelques belles pistes comme "I ain't sugar coatin'", "This ol' tractor", "Country man", "Holdin' on to lettin' go", "Cackalacky twang", "Mule for a Chevrolet".
This new album is produced by Bob Margolin, the former guitarist of Muddy Waters. In addition to Margolin, Mac Arnold is accompanied by his regular band (Max Hightower, Austin Brashier, Mike Whitt). Uneven content - with some rock influences - with some nice tracks like "I ain't sugar coatin'", "This ol' tractor", "Country man", "Holdin' on to lettin' go", "Cackalacky twang", "Mule for a Chevrolet".
LIVE AT THE GREY EAGLE
Vizztone
April 2010
Concert au son puissant dans lequel Mac Arnold et son groupe semblent en pleine forme. Il y a aussi quelques invités comme Bob Margolin, Kim Wilson et Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Bien qu'il y ait plusieurs standards assez conventionnels, la chaude ambiance fait facilement décoller le disque. Il faut surtout mentionner ses propres morceaux "Backbone and gristle" et "Ghetto blue", les meilleurs moments du programme.
Powerful concert in which Mac Arnold and his band seem in great shape. There are also some guests like Bob Margolin, Kim Wilson and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Although there are several fairly conventional standards, the warm atmosphere makes the disc take off easily. It is important to mention his own songs "Backbone and gristle" and "Ghetto blue", the highlights of the program.
GIVE IT AWAY
Plantation #1
2015
Sympathique nouvelle livraison de Mac Arnold. Sur ce dernier album, il ne chante pas sur tous les titres laissant parfois ses musiciens s'en charger. Certains morceaux sortent du lot comme "Nickel and dime", "Don't burn my cornbread", "Uncle Dewitt's cafe", "Train smoke", "I'll take care of you". D'autres pistes semblent, en revanche, beaucoup plus convenues. Un contenu inégal mais qui vaut néanmoins une écoute attentive.
Nice new installment of Mac Arnold. On this last album, he does not sing on all titles sometimes leaving his musicians to take care of singing duties. Some songs stand out as "Nickel and dime", "Don't burn my cornbread", "Uncle Dewitt's cafe", "Train smoke", "I'll take care of you". Other tracks seem, on the other hand, much more conventional. Uneven content but nevertheless worth listening attentively.