by Bill Dahl
The French Black & Blue label was savvy enough to spirit Brooks into a studio when he was touring the continent in 1975 as part of Chicago Blues Festival '75. As befits the jam-session ambience of the date (pianist Willie Mabon, harpist Mack Simmons, and two-thirds of the Aces are on hand), hoary standards predominate: &Crosscut Saw,& &Things I Used to Do,& &Mama Talk to Your Daughter,& and the ubiquitous title track (which remains a signature song). The omnipresent &The Train and the Horse& returns as well.