Personnel: Little Milton (vocals, guitar); Ricky Earl (guitar); Lucky Peterson (keyboards); Frank McClure (bass); Tony Brown (drums).
Engineers: Joe Chapman, Sparrow Sound Design.
Recorded live at Westville Correctional Center, Westville, Indiana on January 14, 1983. Includes liner notes by Bill Dahl.
Personnel: Little Milton (vocals, guitar); Ricky Earl (guitar); Lucky Peterson (keyboards); Tony Brown (drums).
Liner Note Author: Bill Dahl.
Recording information: Westville, IN (01/14/1983).
You're gonna wish you had been there after listening to this scorching live set from the '80s. It features the blues singing of Little Milton superbly accompanied by Lucky Peterson, who distinguishes himself on the organ, and the Tony Brown Band. This CD is a combination of two concerts recorded separately in a single day -- one for men, one for women, in 1983. Milton does none of his big hits, which doesn't seem to bother the captive crowd, most of whom probably didn't know them anyway. Highlights include an emotional reworking of O. V. Wright's "Eight Men, Four Women," a 16-minute medley of soul and blues songs, and the deep soul classic "That's How Strong My Love Is." Milton really gets into it for the women. He coughs up two smoldering original compositions "Friend of Mine," and "Loving You Is the Best Thing That Happened to Me." The most surprising thing about Live at Westville Prison is why it took so long to surface on CD. ~ Andrew Hamilton
Professional Reviews
Down Beat (4/96, p.55) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "The great Milton Campbell always renders the stylistic dividing line between blues and soul irrelevant....he acts out song lyrics with tremendously believable emotion..."
Musician (3/96, p.94) - "...This 40-year blues vet only improved with age. The proof is here..."
Living Blues (1-2/96, p.83) - "...Milton starts off in high gear on the opening chestnut and then brings it down for an especially poignant version of O.V. Wright's classic `Eight Man, Four Women'..."
