MAGIC SAM (S4R31)

What better way to herald Soul4Real’s first foray into the blues: two wonderful sides by the late great Magic Sam!

Born Samuel Gene Maghett in Mississippi in 1937, in his teens he made the familiar migratory journey north where he established himself – along with the likes of Otis Rush – as one of the great exponents of the ‘West Side’ Chicago blues sound.

In 1967, Sam signed to Delmark and cut his first LP, the critically acclaimed ‘West Side Soul’ from which the two tracks featured here are taken. “Every Night and Every Day” is delivered in his familiar style, whereas “That’s All I Need” reveals a more soulful side to Sam’s vocals, pointing towards the blues-soul style that was to dominate the genre into the 70s and beyond.

His tragic death, aged just 32 in 1969, deprived the world of a wonderful blues talent, but he left a fine legacy of influential and inspirational work admired by fans and musicians alike.

(Mike Lofthouse)