Talk about someone with credentials. In the late fifties Sam Lay was the drummer for the Howlin’ Wolf Band. In the sixties he was a charter member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. For the last thirty years he’s been fronting his own band and he’s generally regarded as the premier drummer to ever come out of the Chicago blues scene. Sam calls himself the shuffle master, a nickname which perfectly suits him. This new CD of his is definitely old school.

"Rush Hour Blues" was produced by Nashville guitar legend Fred James. It was Fred’s goal to get this record to sound like an old Delmark album. Fred plays rhythm guitar throughout the disc. Larry Burton plays lead guitar, Celia Ann Price plays organ and piano, Bob Kommersmith handles the bass, and Greg "Fingers" Taylor plays harmonica.

Predictably enough, the disc opens with a Howlin’ Wolf number called "Baby How Long." Some of the songs such as "I’ll Be The Judge Of That," and "I’m Gonna Shoot Her," show Sam’s sense of humor. I don’t think any of the young contemporary bluesmen would have the balls to record a song with such a politically incorrect title as "Im Gonna Shoot Her." But these songs have been part of Sam’s live repertoire and have always been popular with his audience.

In "I Like Women," Sams sings "short, tall, skinny, or fat, a good looking woman is where it’s at." Amen! Sam later sings a song called "I got Two Women," firmly establishing his heterosexuality.

I liked Sam’s version of the Muddy Waters classic "Blow Wind Blow." This song opens with the quintessential Chicago blues riff. Listen to it and you’ll know what I mean. The lone instumental is called "Midnight Drag" and it’s saved for the end of the disc. It’s one of those numbers where everyone gets a chance to solo.

There’s no question that the blues purests out there are going to love this disc. However, there’s a good chance that this recording will reach a much wider audience. You can’t be on a better blues label these days than Telarc. Everything they’ve been putting out the last couple of years has been absolutely great. This one is no exception.

- Bill Harriman

****1/2