Between the opener, Johnny Roger's Big Joe Turner-styled "Calling Baby" with its superb ensemble horn playing and the closer, a belting version of Andre William's "Is It True" on which Big Joe outshines even the salacious Mr William's outrageous delivery, we get a bunch of classics such as Pee Wee Craytons' "You Know Yeah," Jimmy Nelson's "Cry Hard Luck" and Elmore's "Can't stop lovin," on which Joe gives his famed bottleneck guitar a workout. Interspersed are several Joe Louis originals: "Hey Hey Now Baby," which would be right at home in a Longhair set; "Brand New Home," a Little Richard/Larry Williams-style rocker and "Tailor made," which could have easily stemmed from the pen of Willie Dixon. All these originals, much to Joe's credit, sit very easily alongside the covers.

Standing out amongst many high points of the album is the fantastic version of L.C. McKinleys' "Nit Wit"- rocking Chicago r&b at its best. Also notable are "Do what You Want To Do" with effective harp from Wes Weston, underpinned by riffing horns that draw to mind late fifties Cobra-style Chicago blues, and Percy Mayfield's "Life Is Suicide." How many bands would even attempt Mayfields' anguished style? The Playboys do and do it well thanks to Joe's convincing vocal.

Another plus are the track playing times, at an average of 2 ¾ minutes, this is how numbers should be, short sweet and straight to the point, no endless guitar/bass thrashing here! Altogether this is a fine album that should both please long-time Playboys fans and gain them many new ones.