Reviews: 

CHOO CHOO CHARLIE WILLIAMS  - Harpin' My Life Away (Crabgrass Music)

"That's Fantastic, What a great recording. Everybody is on this thing, I swear. Sounds great. " Damian Einstein, WRNR, Washington DC area legendary DJ, July 2002

"Choo Choo" Charlie is well established in this region as one of its finest harmonica players. The Spitfires will conjure up any musical genre but remain rooted in the blues." Wayne Kahn, Right on Rhythm Music, August 2001

Choo Choo Charlie Wiliams and Baltimore Red Jones - Gut Bucket Blues - Delta, Texas, Piedmont and Ragtime blues from the pre 1940's in the folk tradition

Choo Choo Charlie Williams and Red Jones "Backing (Red) Jones fluid playing and raspy singing is (Choo Choo Charlie) Williams' most sympathetic harmonica accompaniment and solos that complement Red Jones vocals and playing. Jones is a fine, ragtime flavored guitarist. (They) "certainly do themselves proud with a terrific effort". --Ron Weinstock, DC Blues Calendar, November 1999, DC Blues Society.

CHOO CHOO CHARLIE WILLIAMS Harpin' My Life Away (Crabgrass Music)

Choo Choo Charlie Williams has produced a first rate CD that provides a defining self portrait of his 25 years in the music business. It includes 9 original songs (49 minutes) among the 12 selections. Based in the blues, there are also roots of other American music including Zydeco, P,&B, Honky Tonk, Latin and jazz. Charlie did a lot of things right, from professional packaging to quality song selection and recruitment of talented musicians. The CD includes an 8 page booklet with background information, lots of photos, and excellent liner notes including the key in which each song was recorded, for those harp enthusiasts who might want to play along. Charlie's superb cast of musicians includes his regular band, The Spitfires (Larry Dennis, Josh Scheps, Rick Hagman, plus Chris Hutton, Wayne Sulc, and Rob Holmes on horns and former Loaded Roller band members (Danny Powell, Mike D'Amato, Marc Levant, and Mike Lang). In addition, he acquired the talents of Geno Delafose and Jonas Goldstein for a few Zydeco cuts, Tommy Lepson on the Hammond B-3 throughout the album, Daryl Davis on piano, and other guests, including Mac Walter and Rich Chorne' (guitar), Cesar Vanegas (congas), Rae Venetianer, and Dave Fairall (saxophone). The opener, "Take It Easy Baby," describes the daily frustrations that we all experience from ATM malfunctions to dealing with the boss at work. It includes plenty of harp breaks and organ and sax solos laid down over a driving rock rhythm. The tempo slows for "Baby I Need Your Love," and Charlie adds congas to tie together harp and organ solos with Larry Dennis providing some nice lead guitar. S-w-e-e-t, just like Charlie's wife.

A harp album needs an instrumental showcase and "Choo Choo's Boogie" does not disappoint. Changing rhythms, drawing out long bends, and adding short staccato notes, Charlie blends together a swinging mix of original riffs interspersed with familiar comic runs that.challenge you to suppress a smile. "My Mojo Don't Help Me" will also put a smile on your face as Choo Choo replies to Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Workin'." The covers on this album include "Jambalaya" (Hank Williams) and "Treat Her Right" (Roy Head/Gene Kurtz). But it is the choice, "Drinkin' Wine Spo- Dee-O-Dee," that I was most pleased to find. This song was a big hit for Sticks McGhee (brother of Brownee McGhee) in the late 1940's, helping to define the Atlantic Records R&B sound. Sticks had learned the song as a barracks ditty during his stint in the army, but it contained an unacceptable lyric line that had to be replaced before it could be recorded, and so the phrase "spo-dee-o-dee" was devised. Tell me Charlie, just what were those original lyrics? The cover selections provide clues about Charlie's musical life, but it comes back to the originals where the real heart of this effort lies. Harpin' My Life Away is an appropriate title for this CD, for it is indeed autobiographical. The original songs describe Choo Choo's admiration for various styles of music and musicians, his feelings for his wife, the importance of friends, and his love of life. No cut on the album is more personal than "My Good Friends Are Gone." It is the story of Charlie's youth, growing up, seeing a friend lose his life, moving to Baltimore, becoming a musician ... It has all led to this album. And Charlie has done it right. Harpin' My Life Away available by calling (410) 531-6519. Or e-mail choochoocw@aol.com, Web site: www.choochoocharlie.org

--Lee Alban, Bluesrag, April 2000,Baltimore Blues Society

Choo Choo Charlie Williams has followed up the wonderful album (Gutbucket Blues) he did with Red Jones with a new cd with his band the Spitfires, Harpin' My Life Away. This set focuses more on Charlie's amplified harp work and his vocals. Charlie does sing in an attractive, unforced manner. Most of the material are originals and he has a way of matching his lyrics with his melodies. While much of this is blues based, he mixes in some cajun and zydeco sounds with guest appearance from Geno Delafose on Jambalaya and Why Don't You (Let me Love You Honey). Others on this include Mike Lange, Tommy Lepson and Daryl Davis on keyboards, Rich Chorne' and Larry Dennis on guitar and Chris Sutton and Wayne Sulc on trumpet and saxophones. He adds touches to prevent the boogies and shuffles from sounding trite. The use of the horns gives a nice coloring to the opening shuffle, Take it Easy, while his harp and Dave Fairall's tenor sax create an interesting musical blend on the swamp-pop styled Since the Day You Went Away. Choo Choo's Boogie is a nice harp romp, while the closing Slippin' Away (Song for Klara) is a nice jazzy tune with fine chromatic playing. Harpin' My Life Away is a record that is varied, entertaining and full of heartfelt music.

--Ron Weinstock, DC Blues Calendar, March 2000, DC Blues Society