Pinetop Perkins Heaven 180g LP (Vinyl)

Limited Edition 180g Audiophile Vinyl!
Rare-Previously Unreleased Tracks By The Dean of Blues!

If there is a Heaven - and God knows there ought to be for those blues musicians of The Delta who endured grievous deprivations and suffered countless indignities yet brought joy to so many - Pinetop Perkins is certainly there.

Pinetop Perkins was a three-time Grammy Award winner and the dean of blues piano players when he passed away, just four months shy of his 98th birthday. Blind Pig is proud to announce the release of Heaven, an astounding set of solo and small group pieces Perkins recorded in 1986. This is Pine at the peak of his powers, in a delightfully intimate studio setting.

It is truly sublime to be able to savor one more recording of Pinetop's. And this is not just another recording: Heaven captures a beautifully intimate studio performance of Pinetop when he was 'only' 73 - with 24 more years of playing and touring ahead of him. He performs solo on all but four tracks. The self-taught master pianist is in magnificent form, delivering thundering chords and glissandos, rolled chords, trilled notes, complex metrical substitutions, sly musical quotes - and of course the lightly swinging boogie woogie for which he is beloved.

His strong, rough-edged voice conveys an authority that is complemented by a subtle playfulness or vulnerability, perhaps best epitomized on his own compositions, such as "Ida B", "4 O'clock In the Morning" and the marvelous "Pinetop's Blues". "Sitting On Top of the World" is yet another selection delivered in this manner, sung by guest vocalist Willie Smith. It is believed this track is Smith's last recording, as he unexpectedly passed away in September of 2011. On Buddy Johnson's lovely "Since I Fell For You" Pinetop is accompanied by guest singer Otis Clay who captures the sweet agony of the lyrics and nails those blue notes in a very personal, private performance.

It is unquestionably a little slice of heaven for us to have Pinetop Perkins, that brilliant dean of the blues keys and lovable rascal, for this bonus after-hours set of masterful music.

Features:
• 180g Vinyl
• Audiophile Limited Edition
• Rare-previously unreleased tracks
• Protective poly-bag

Guest Musicians:
Willie Smith, vocals (4)
Otis Clay, vocals (6)

Selections:
1. 44 Blues
2. 4 O'Clock In the Morning
3. Relaxin'
4. Sitting On Top Of the World
5. Just Keep On Drinking
6. Since I Fell For You
7. Pinetop's Boogie Woogie
8. Ida B
9. Sweet Home Chicago
10. Pinetop's Blues
11. Willow Weep For Me
12. That's All Right