Stunning 1970 Yellow Label Original In Shrink Wrap. 1E/1A Stampers. “The Debut Album By The Guitarist And Songwriter, Issued By Columbia, When Shuggie Was Only 18. The Album Is Evenly Divided Between Vocal Tunes And Instrumentals. The Cast For These Sessions Included Johnny, Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper, Bassist Al McKibbon, Preston Love, Jackie Kelso, Plas Johnson, And A String Section. "Oxford Gray," The Album's Opener, Is An Instrumental Written By Johnny, Shuggie, Felder, And Hooper. Unlike Anything That Ever Came Before It, It's A Baroque Blues Tune That Features Shuggie Playing Both Electric And Acoustic Bottleneck Slide, A Harpsichord, Strings, And A Groovy Little Backbeat That Walks The Edge Of Blues And Funk. It Feels Like A Suite Because Of Its Many Composed Sections, But Shuggie's Guitar Is Pure Improvisational Poetry. This Is Followed By The Beautiful, Psychedelic Pop Of "Jennie Lee." Shuggie's Vocals Weren't Quite There, And Were Still Somewhat Tentative, But His Gorgeous, Albert King-Inflected Guitar Solo Is Right In The Pocket, And Stands In Wonderful Contrast To His Acoustic String In The Verses. The Horns Are Restrained And Regal, And The Textural Palette Of The Cut Is Lush And Spacious. There Is Plenty Of Rootsy Playing Here Too, Such As On "Bootie Cooler," A Stax-Styled Blues Groove, And The Name-Dropping Shimmy And Shake Of "Shuggie's Boogie," The Wig-Tightening Funk Of "Hurricane," And The Reverentially Gritty "Gospel Groove." It Closes With A Modern Soul Rocker Called "Baby I Needed You," With A Killer Hook In The Refrain. “ Thom Jurek, AMG.