Bayou Lightning

Bayou Lightning
Studio album by
Lonnie Brooks
Released1979
GenreBlues
LabelAlligator
Lonnie Brooks chronology
Living Chicago Blues, Vol. 3
(1978) 		Bayou Lightning
(1979) 		Turn On the Night
(1981)

Bayou Lightning is an album by the American musician Lonnie Brooks, released in 1979.[1][2] It is considered to be his commercial breakthrough.[3] The album won the Grand Prix du Disque Award in 1980.[4] Brooks supported it with a North American tour.[5] His son Ronnie Baker Brooks recreated the album cover art for his 2025 album, Blues in My DNA.[6]

Production

Brooks was influenced primarily by B. B. King.[7] He dubbed his music "voodoo blues", due to its combination of Louisiana and Chicago influences.[8] Casey Jones played drums during the recording sessions.[9] Billy Branch played harmonica on "Alimony".[10] "In the Dark" is a cover of the Junior Parker song.[11] "I Ain't Superstitious" was written by Willie Dixon.[5] "Figure Head" is about a money-hungry woman.[12] The protagonist of "Voodoo Daddy" fears that his future father-in-law may put a hex on him.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to the Blues[11]
Robert ChristgauB−[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD[9]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[16]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[17]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide[13]

The Bay State Banner said that "Brooks plays a fluid, sharp guitar, influenced by the sound of fellow Louisianans like Slim Harpo, [and] is also capable of working in the harsh, chomping urban genre."[18] The Lincoln Journal Star called the album "an outstanding effort by a versatile blues performer."[19] The Houston Post noted that "it's easy enough to hear his bayou roots, but there's also a hard dose of Chicago-style energy and fire here".[20] The Herald-Times concluded that "what sets Brooks apart from most of the other bluesmen is his jazzy toying with tempo."[21] Robert Christgau labeled Brooks "a thoughtful guitarist, intermittently clever composer, and competent shouter".[14]

In 1991, the Chicago Tribune listed Bayou Lightning among ten "essential" Alligator Records albums.[22]

Track listing

Side A

  1. "Voodoo Daddy"
  2. "Figure Head"
  3. "Watchdog"
  4. "Breakfast in Bed"
  5. "In the Dark"

Side B

  1. "Worked Up Woman"
  2. "Alimony"
  3. "Watch What You Got"
  4. "I Ain't Superstitious"
  5. "You Know What My Body Needs"

References

  1. ^ Iglauer, Bruce; Roberts, Patrick A. (2018). Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story. University of Chicago Press. p. 312.
  2. ^ Morthland, John (July 1999). "Blues brothers". Texas Monthly. Vol. 27, no. 7. pp. 68–70.
  3. ^ McDonald, Sam (May 16, 1997). "Bluesman's Soul Intact on Latest Album". Daily Press. Newport News. p. D8.
  4. ^ Edwards, Lee (April 19, 2017). "Lonnie Brooks' Homegoing Ceremony Celebrated the Blues Legend's Life". Entertainment. Chicago Defender. p. 10.
  5. ^ a b Trachtenberg, Jay (May 17, 1980). "Lonnie Brooks solidifies reputation". Time Out. Austin American-Statesman. p. 23.
  6. ^ Volmers, Eric (July 31, 2025). "Blues-infused DNA". Calgary Herald. p. A9.
  7. ^ Aikens, Jan (February 14, 1980). "Midwest likes Brooks's music". The Vidette-Messenger. p. 6.
  8. ^ The Rough Guide to the Blues. Rough Guides. 2007. p. 113.
  9. ^ a b Hadley, Frank-John (1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. The Grove Press. p. 22.
  10. ^ Lawson, Terry (December 8, 1979). "New and noteworthy". Accent. The Journal Herald. Vol. 172, no. 294. p. 4.
  11. ^ a b All Music Guide to the Blues (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 2003. p. 69.
  12. ^ Blumenthal, Howard J. (1998). The Blues CD Listener's Guide. Billboard Books. p. 15.
  13. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. 1999. pp. 92–93.
  14. ^ a b "Lonnie Brooks". Robert Christgau. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 757.
  16. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 46.
  17. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 67.
  18. ^ Lane, George (July 19, 1979). "Shades of Blue". The Bay State Banner. Vol. 14, no. 41. p. 19.
  19. ^ Becker, Bart (July 18, 1979). "Matter of Record". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 11.
  20. ^ Claypool, Bob (February 8, 1980). "Records". The Houston Post. p. 12E.
  21. ^ Leonard, Mike (May 2, 1980). "Audibles". The Herald-Times. p. 25.
  22. ^ Kot, Greg (June 9, 1991). "Highlights of the Alligator Records catalog". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
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