Lonnie Mack – Live From Louisville 1992
This set features 7 exciting tracks by the pioneering blues/rock guitarist Lonnie Mack (1941-2016) & though it’s not one of the best live production recordings, it was authorized for release by his estate. Several indeed possess some of his finest guitar solos, so a little tolerance is required to appreciate the skill.
I witnessed this issue with some live John Mayall, where the show & playing by the Mayall band of that time was exceptional. Unfortunately, it was recorded poorly & not professionally. This 6-panel Live From Louisville 1992 (Dropped Oct. 24/Mack’s Flying V Music/Last Music Co/52:30) includes good liner notes & color images. Lonnie is joined by Denzil Rice (keyboards), Hoy Lindsey (bass/vocals) & Jeff McAllister (drums).
The LP includes several Mack originals. Through the years, the Indiana-born Lonnie McIntosh did lots of session work with James Brown, Freddie King & Hank Ballard. He even played bass on 2 from The Doors’ “Morrison Hotel” LP. His virtuosic 6-string blues/rock lead guitar influenced Stevie Ray Vaughn & Jeff Beck, among others.
The showcase, despite its bumpy ride recording quality, opens with a fiery guitar solo & a deep-note piano run on the 9-minute blues scorcher “Camp Washington Chili/If You Have To Know.” It reminds me of the late guitarist Roy Buchanan who Lonnie played with along with Albert Collins at the Carnegie Hall blues summit.
There’s some good between-song patter with the audience before launching into some gut-bucket blues & grinding notes on “Satisfy Suzie.” It squeezes out gnarly catchy runs & Lonnie’s vocals are good. It’s easy to appreciate the blistering Lonnie Mack guitar on each track. There are moments you understand why a guitar hero like Stevie Ray Vaughn raised his eyebrows when Mr. Mack played. The piano solo on this is also not to be missed.
Again, the production is muddy, but the guitar solo on “Stop” is essential. A really blues-saturated, gripping performance. They said Lonnie was too rock for country & too country for rock & roll, but there’s no denying his deep navy-blue abilities. Deep. Nostalgia buffs will enjoy the 7-minute plus medley of Mack’s 2 hits – a guided missile instrumental of Chuck Berry’s classic “Memphis,” coupled with the machine-gun fire of “Wham.” This gave birth to the guitar “whammy bar” term. A gutsy performance.
The playing always cuts through like a stainless-steel knife. Songs like “Oreo Cookie Blues” lean more into novelty territory, lyrically anyway. It seems Lonnie needed some words to wrap around his well-nourished guitar notes. “Cincinnati Jail” is the thick, tasty hot soup close-out. Impressive. Miss you, Lonnie Mack.
Highlights – “Camp Washington Chili/If You Have To Know,” “Satisfy Suzie,” “Stop,” “Memphis/Wham,” & “Cincinnati Jail.”
Color image courtesy of the Last Music Co. CD @ Apple + Amazon & https://thelastmusiccompanyltd.substack.com/p/lonnie-mack
