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Johnny Guitar Watson – Ain't that a bitch

Johnny Guitar Watson – A Real Mother

Released on 12 May 2003

Following the recent anthology these two titles form the first part of an ongoing reissue series. The classic 1976 funk album Ain't that a bitch repackaged with two bonus tracks. A real Mother for ya is repackaged also with a bonus single edit.

When 'I Need It’ and 'Superman Lover’ took him into the R&B Top 40 in 1976, one of music’s most under-rated talents finally soared into the mainstream. The first of a succession of classic funk-blues albums, Ain’t That A Bitch typifies the humour, soul and hot guitar licks of a genuine American legend.

When Johnny after a long career hit pay dirt in this disco funk era he ure cut a distinctive groove. Yes the blues roots were still there and so was the distinctive vocal but in the days when disco was formulaic this was different and distinctive. Whether getting down on the hits or the more mellow and bluesy, Ta Ta , for example, it was Johnny Guitar of the day and everybody knew.

In fact on this album there is not a bad track with Since I met you with twangy guitar and mellow horns is one of my faves. It is worth dwelling or listening to the lesser known tracks like We're no exception which is a blues ballad but in a Stevie Wonder kind of style, and Won't you forgive me is a nice mellow piece of blues funk.

The title track of this 1977 album A Real Mother was one of the finest funk excursions of the decade, and its tie-in LP was a cornucopia of stinging blues guitar, devilish lyrical concoctions and modernist R&B. This album not quite as consistently strong as it's predecessor but when the heights are reached the heights are reached. The title track is a storming, amusing chunk of funk.

You're about as mellow and melodic as JGW gets on Nothing Left to be desired. The Real Deal of course includes that distinctive JGW blues skat. I wnna thank you has a nice groove but vocally Johnny is pretty distinctive and a bit of an acquired tastes, it is instantly hima and sometimes a bit too stylised. On a trcak like this I'm not too sure about it but I like the feel.

Lover Jones for me is the best and this is where it needs to be and have the Johnny voice.

Tracks – A Real Mother

A Real Mother For Ya
Nothing Left To Be Desired
Your Love Is My Love
The Real Deal
Tarzan
I Wanna Thank You
Lover Jones

Bonus Tracks

A Real Mother for ya (Edit)

The Real Deal (Edit)

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