1985
This album of covers, plus one original, shows off the considerable piano talents of Minneapolis troubadour Willie Murphy, which he has lent throughout his career to Bonnie Raitt and Isaac Hayes, among others …it is precisely his exhausted voice, a cross between Dr. John and a latter-day Bob Dylan, that keeps the songs exciting. He is almost as cocky and self-assured as Howlin’ Wolf on the Wolf’s “Riding In the Moonlight,” and he lends a swinging feel to Robert Johnson’s “Ramblin’ On My Mind.” Also to his credit is the lone original song on Piano Hits, the sentimental “Fairy Tale”, which rides a touching melody line to its conclusion. -AllMusic Review by Steve Kurutz
Musicians
Willie Murphy Piano, Vocals
Track List
- Pocket Full of Money · Frank Frost
- How Do You Feel · Percy Mayfield/Ray Charles
- Kind Hearted Woman · Robert Johnson
- Danger Zone · Percy Mayfield/Ray Charles
- Dizzy Miss Lizzy · Larry Williams
- Drive Me Home · H. Glover
- Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying · Joe Greene
- Riding In the Moonlight · Chester Burnett
- Slow Long Blues/Bring It On Home To Me · Willie Murphy/Sam Cooke
- Sweet Blood Call · Louisiana Red/Kent Cooper
- Pine Top’s Boogie · Clarence Smith
- Ramblin’ On My Mind · Robert Johnson
- Fairy Tale · Willie Murphy
Credits
- Scott Rivard Engineer
- Jonathan Akre Editing
- Rick Dublin Photography
- Chuck Anderson Design
- Brian Droege Photographic Assistance
- Kii Arens & Doug Myren Layout
Special thanks to The Wednesday Night Regulars
Phonographic Copyright ℗ Atomic Theory Records
Copyright © Atomic Theory Records
Recorded at 74th Street Studio, Edina, MN
Sample Tracks
