Live Top

PINETOP PERKINS

© & (p) 1995 Deluge Records, Inc.

Live Top captures Perkins at the top of his game with a crack band of backing musicians (Maine's own Blue Flames), a supportive audience and the down-home blues only he can deliver.

It's safe to say that after some 60 years in music, Pinetop Perkins has never sounded better. If his fingers aren't as nimble as they once were, he's more than made up for it with a highly crafted selection of notes. And, Perkins leaves his audience with some of the richest, sweetest blues singing they're ever likely to hear.

Pinetop Perkins has reached a pinnacle in his performance with Live Top.

Produced by Randy Labbe
Executive Producer: Steve Bloch

The Songs

1. Chicken Shack
2. After Hours
3. High heel Sneakers
4. Hoochie Coochie Man
5. Murmur Low (a.k.a. Big Fat Mama)
6. Five Years
7. I Had My Fun
8. Down In Mississippi
9. Low Down Dirty Shame
10. Got My Mojo Working
11. Caledonia
12. I Almost Lost My Mind

The Players

• Pinetop Perkins - piano and vocals
• Doug Wainoris - guitar and backing vocals
• David "D.W." Gill - harmonica and backing vocals
• Jack Tukey - bass
• "Bongo" Bob Noyes - drums
• Jake Isaacson - piano (first part of track 1)
• Dan Lacasse - harmonica (track 12)

Credits

Reviews and Comments

If that's not enough to make you forget those damn guitar pickers for a while, Live Top (Deluge,***) is a dozen onstage recitations from pianist Pinetop Perkins, one of the last of the great exponents of the country derived blues keyboard tradition. And it's proof he still knows how to throw a helluva party.

Pulse!

Pine Top Perkins - Live Top

Recorded live at Bowdoin College and the Blues Plus Lounge both in Maine, Pinetop Perkins shows at his age he can still pound out that Pinetop Boogie on those ivory's. Perkins along with the Blue flames that include D.W. Gill on harmonica and back up vocals, Doug Wainoris on guitar and backup vocals, Jack Tukey on bass, Bob Noyes on drums, and Jake Isaacson who plays piano on one track and Dan Lacasse who plays harmonica on one track transports you through the classics in excellent form. Perkin's vocals have diminished somewhat but not his distinguishable piano style. He plays the piano with the best of them because, he is. The Blue Flames back Perkins superbly with great harmonica work by Gill, tight and innovative guitar work by Wainoris, and a formidable foundation by the rest of the band gives this release an old blues feel, as if this combination has been together for years (some of them have). If you like piano, Pinetop's Boogie, old blues, and the Blue Flames it is a must for your collection.

Southern Maine Blues Society