Magic Sam’s debut, released on Delmark in 1967, introduced the world to Chicago’s West Side sound. This isn’t the beefy swagger of the city’s Chess era. The elegant and stylish bluesman’s reedy yelp and tremolo-laden guitar reflect a love for Motown’s sweet melodicism (“That’s All I Need”) and lean, rocking swing (“I Feel So Good - I Wanna Boogie”). Even when Magic Sam gets low, down, and dirty on J.B. Lenoir’s “Mama, Mama - Talk to Your Daughter,” he sounds disarmingly sophisticated.
Magic Sam – vocals, guitar
Mighty Joe Young – guitar
Stockholm Slim – piano
Earnest Johnson – bass
Odie Payne – drums
Mac Thompson – bass (1,3,8)
Odie Payne, III – drums (1,3,8)

OV Wright at the top of his game -- working here with classic Memphis production from Willie Mitchell, and a sound that should have knocked Al Green right off of the charts! Wright's vocals have a rougher edge than Al's, and the record's really dripping with deep soul feeling -- a slow-burning energy that's perfectly handled by Mitchell, in ways that echo some of OV's bluesier roots, but keeps things in the more sophisticated Memphis modes of the 70s. The balance is perfect, and instrumentation is handled by a batch of Hi Records regulars -- including the Memphis Horns with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. Wright really rises to the occasion for the whole album, and the set's arguably better than any of his later work for Hi -- although that stuff is all pretty darn wonderful too! Titles include "I've Been Searching", "Lost In The Shuffle", "I'd Rather Be Blind Crippled & Crazy", "Ghetto Child", "You Must Believe In Yourself", and "I'm Going Home". Beautiful reissue pressing too -- with deep notes on the music, details of the session, vintage images, and even an OV Wright Discography too!