Berry's
last record for Mercury was a successful attempt to merge blues, rock 'n roll, and psychedelia. He does four blues numbers--opening with an
Elmore James
riff--that work well despite some distracting trick effects in the stereo mix. The title track (which is incorrectly indexed on the CD) is an extraordinary 18-minute workout in which
Berry
rocks and rolls through just about every guitar lick he knows, backed by organ, bass, and drums (there are no credits to be found on the record, alas), and it is a treat for any fan of his playing, even if it is a little excessive--he manages to beat
Jerry Garcia
and
the Grateful Dead
at their own game, and also embraces an utterly unexpected funk sound similar to
Booker T. and the M.G.'s
. Nothing here is as memorable or definitive as his early hits, but the album works well on its own terms, and is superior to such Chess psychedelic releases as
Howlin' Wolf's New Album
Muddy Waters'
Electric Mud
After The Rain
. ~ Bruce Eder