[MRL 305] Ernie Wilkins & His Orchestra - Hard Mother Blues

ERNIE WILKINS & HIS ORCHESTRA
Hard Mother Blues
1970

Ernie Wilkins (ldr)
Ray Copeland, Lloyd Michaels, Joe Newman, Snooky Young (t)
Dave Bargeron, John Gordon, Jack Jeffers, Benny Powell, Billy Ver Planck (tb)
Hubert Laws, Billy Mitchell, Joe Temperley, Chris Woods (sax)
Arthur Bitker, Billy Butler, Lionel Chamberland, David Spinozza (g)
Frank Owens (p)
Chuck Rainey (b)
Grady Tate (d)

Tracks:

A1 Evil Ways
A2 Midnight Hour
A3 Dock Of The Bay
A4 Funky Broadway
A5 I Can´t Make It
A6 Big Foot Country

B1 Next Year´s Blues
B2 Respect
B3 Thank You
B4 No Money Blues
B5 Spoonful

Dusty Groove review:

Forget the "hard mother blues" of the title -- and think "funky big band grooves", because that's what the album's all about! Ernie really steps out on this one -- sounding a lot funkier and more soulful than on some of his 60s outings -- and working with a mix band of acoustic and electric players that includes piano and organ by Frank Owens, bass by Chuck Raney, guitars by Billy Butler and David Spinosa, and saxes by Billy Mitchell and Hubert Laws! The tunes bounce along in a really great style -- lots of electricity in the bottom rhythms, and some sweet solos sliding over the top -- mostly guitar-based, but with some good horns as well. Titles include "Spoonful", "Big Foot Country", "I Can't Make It", "No Money Blues", "Respect", "Evil Ways", and "Funky Broadway"