The Ultimate Collection Music

Average Rating:

I've seen Delbert a half-dozen times over the years. Always with a date, who expected an enjoyable evening on equal footing, and enjoyed such. One of my best friends from high school, one of the most independent-minded women I know, has gone on Delbert's Blues Cruise 3 or 4 times and speaks of him as a Saint. She and her husband know Delbert and his wife on better than casual speaking terms.

Unquestionably, as with anyone singing blues-based music about real people, political correctness is really not a big priority. And clearly, more than a few of Delbert's tunes were written with tongue decidedly in cheek, though most have the ring of real life. I think, when he gets down to the serious stuff of life, his view of women is respectful and reasonable in today's odd world.

As for Bonnie Raitt, you might listen a little closer to some of her songs, and particularly covers of old blues from the likes of Sippie Wallace and Bessie Smith (as opposed to, say, Helen Reddy). Clearly these women (and Bonnie) could dish as well as take--and that's as it should be.

Our friend from Iowa needs to relax, actually listen and enjoy the music, instead of trying to filter everything through her fine-gauged sive of political correctness.

Delbert McClinton has been one of our great blues/R&B singers and harp parctitioners for more than four decades, and this is an excellent cross-section of his musical wares. I suspect, based on the resurgence of his career in the past few years, he can survive a few misguided brick-bats from the corn belt.

(Not that I got anything against the corn belt, ya understand.)